EFCC Detains Ex-Women Affairs Minister, Tallen Over N2bn Fraud

Mrs Pauline Tallen, the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, has been detained, according to The PUNCH.

She is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of money laundering.

Sources privy to the development confirmed to The PUNCH correspondent that Tallen was quizzed by operatives of the EFCC at its zonal headquarters in Wuse, Abuja.

Though details of the allegations against the ex-minister were sketchy, a source familiar with the case told Saturday PUNCH that it bordered on corrupt enrichment to the tune of N2bn.

“The ex-minister arrived at our Abuja Zonal Command (not the headquarters), on invitation, at about 12pm, but she is still being grilled by investigators of the commission as at 8:30pm.

“She’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds and corrupt enrichment to the tune of N2bn, and part of the money was allegedly diverted from the African First Lady Peace Mission Project.”

Spokesperson for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached as of press time.