EFCC Didn’t Invite Or Arrest Me - Ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Tallen Clarifies

Pauline Tallen, the former Minister of Women Affairs, has finally opened up on her recent trip to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s office in Abuja, The PUNCH reports.

Earlier reports on Friday had stated that the former minister was being questioned over allegations that N2 billion meant for the African First Lady Peace Mission Programme was improperly used.

Tallen, in a statement that was released early on Saturday, disclosed that she arrived at the EFCC office on her “own accord,” adding that she wasn’t detained or invited either.

Reports surfaced on Friday that the former minister was being questioned over claims of the misappropriation of N2 billion for the African First Lady Peace Mission Project.

The former minister said that she visited the EFCC headquarters to “address the extremely false claims” that had lately been made against her, although she did not specify the reason for her visit.

“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,” the statement read.

“Firstly, the decent and appropriate action, should this have been a genuine inquiry, would be to write to the Ministry for Women Affairs to inquire 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 is 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,” she stated.

Tallen stressed that “economic and political infrastructure” should be used to serve the nation and “not to be used as a tool for bias or intimidation”.