N585m scandal: Tinubu bows to pressure suspends Betta Edu

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President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.

Aguri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

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.

“These directives of the President take immediate effect”, he stated.

Newssphere reports that about N585.189 million meant for the vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, was reportedly diverted into a private account.
This led to widespread outrage and a call for Edu’s sack and prosecution.
In a viral document signed by Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister directed the disbursement of N585.189 million into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
The leaked document revealed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
Amid the widespread outrage, Edu, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, said the payment followed due process.

 

 

 

 

 

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