President Bola Tinubu on Monday, Suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu
over alleged involvement in the approval of N585,198,500.00 to be disbursed into a personal account.
The President, also directed 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 under the ministry.
In a statement on Monday by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu, also ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions” involving the ministry and “one or more agencies thereunder”.
The embattled minister, was alleged to have signed a letter and instructed the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grants for vulnerable groups in four states.
Madein confirmed that although her office received a request from the humanitarian ministry, to make certain payments, her office did not act on it.
Edu, however, subsequently said there were plans to tarnish her image, insisting that she won’t embezzle government funds.
Similarly, the EFCC is presently probing Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N37.1billion during her tenure as a minister under the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.