‘Financial Fraud’: EFCC grills Buhari’s former minister

Former minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen, was quizzed by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), over alleged N2 billion fraud till late Friday night, according to report by the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).

Though details of the allegations against the former minister were sketchy, a source familiar with the case informed that it bordered on alleged corrupt enrichment to the tune of N2 billion.

The immediate past women minister however, denied reports that she was arrested by the EFCC.

Reacting to the report, in a statement personally signed by Tallen on Saturday, June 3, 2023, she disclosed that she volunteered to visit the anti-graft agency to address the allegation levied against her.

The statement reads, “9pm yesterday news began circulating that I had been arrested by the EFCC. This fake news was carried by several media outlets who were either mischievious or misguided.

“I would like to state that I went to the EFCC on my own accord to address the very false allegation made against me recently.

“Owing to the respect for my former principal – Former President Muhammadu Buhari and his good office, I did not previously address the open allegation, however it has now become necessary to do so.

“Firstly, the decent & appropriate action, should this have been a genuine enquiry, would be to write to the Mininstry for Women Affairs, to enquire about any funds sent to the Ministry.

“To immediately jump to the open without any proper formal correspondence is highly unprofessional, portrays a lack of respect for the Ministry of Women Affairs and injurious to my person and character. Furthermore, I will like to state that there was no formal invitation from the anti-graft agency neither was I arrested.

“Again out of respect for the professionalism demonstrated by the EFCC, I will make this Press statement a brief one, to allow for a transparent enquiry.

“Finally, I urge all leaders in every sphere of our Society and remind them that our Economic and Political infrastructure are tise used to serve the Nation, from the highest office holder to the noblest of us and not to be used as a tool for bias or intimidation.”

At the time of filling this report, no official statement has been released by the anti-graft agency.