President Tinubu Suspends Minister Betta Edu Amid Allegations and Initiates Investigations into Ministry Finances.

 

With immediate effect, President Bola Tinubu has suspended Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Read the gist

The President has also instructed the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all financial transactions related to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, including its associated agencies, as outlined in a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelali.

The statement reads; 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 Minister faces allegations of approving a substantial sum, N585,198,500.00, for disbursement into a personal account, as per a letter purportedly signed by Betta, the humanitarian minister. The letter instructs the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the funds to Oniyelu Bridget's account, designated as a grant for vulnerable groups across four states. In response, Madein clarified that while her office received a payment request from the humanitarian ministry, it took no action on it.

Edu, the 37-year-old Minister, the youngest in the President's cabinet, refutes the accusations, asserting that there are orchestrated plans to tarnish her image. Emphasizing her commitment to ethical conduct, Edu categorically denies any involvement in the embezzlement of public funds.