TINUBU DIRECTS EFCC TO CONDUCT PROBE, FOLLOWING BETTA EDU’S SUSPENSION
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President Bola Tinubu has suspended Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, from her position with immediate effect.
The suspension of the minister was declared in a statement on Monday afternoon by Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesman.
Edu’s alleged involvement in approving the transfer of N585,198,500.00 into a personal account has been the subject of controversy.
In a letter purportedly signed by the humanitarian minister, she allegedly gave the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, instructions to transfer the funds to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grants for vulnerable groups in four states.
Madein clarified, nevertheless, that despite receiving a request from the humanitarian ministry to make specific payments, her office chose not to comply with it.
Prior to her suspension, Edu, 37, was the youngest member of the President’s cabinet. She later stated that attempts were being made to damage her reputation and that she would not misuse public cash.
Coincidentally, Sadiya Farouq, Edu’s predecessor, is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering N37.1 billion while serving as a minister in the former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Many Nigerians and human rights advocates had made strong requests for Edu’s suspension. In response to her suspected involvement in a disbursement fraud, the Federal Government acknowledged the outcry on Sunday and stated that the President has directed a comprehensive investigation into Edu’s ministry.
Giving in to pressure, the President suspended Edu on Monday and gave Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, instructions “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.”
The President also directed the suspended minister to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and “fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
“In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
“The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
“The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
“Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.”
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