Fraud: EFCC Grills Edu Today

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is expected to grill the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Dr. Betta Edu today

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Monday suspended the minister following the alleged N585 million fraud that rocked her ministry.

The magazine reported that Edu sent a memo to the Accountant General of the Federation to pay close to N600 million into a private bank account.

The fund was meant for poverty alleviation in four states in the country.

Edu ran into problem after the memo went viral, as prominent Nigerians called for her probe for breaching the country’s extant financial laws.

President Tinubu suspended her yesterday despite Edu’s defence that she has done no wrong.

Following her suspension, the president directed her to report to the EFCC for investigation.

The suspension was contained in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

The state said; “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.

“These directives of the President take immediate effect.”

Edu, a former Commissioner in Cross Rivers state was All Progressives Congress, APC, Women Leader before she was appointed Minister by President Tinubu in August last year.