President Tinubu and Betta Edu.
Newsone Nigeria reports that Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been suspended from office with immediate effect by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over an alleged N585 million scandal.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Monday, January 8, 2024.
Ngelale said Edu’s suspension is in line with the president’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
The President also 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 statement said 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,” the statement added.
When the scandal emerged, Tinubu Minister Betta Edu didn’t deny paying N585 million into a private account, rather the Minister confirmed that she authorized payment of N585 million into a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
In defense, the Minister claimed the payment followed due process. According to her, she currently serves as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
In a letter allegedly signed by the humanitarian minister, she allegedly instructed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grants for vulnerable groups in four states.
However, Madein explained that although her office received a request from the humanitarian ministry to make certain payments, her office did not act on it.