President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, over the allegations of fraud that were levelled against her.
This development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, hours after Tinubu had ordered a probe into the suspended minister over a sum of N585 million which was paid into a private account.
In the statement, Ngelale also said that President Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to thoroughly investigate the financial transactions of the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty alleviation.
The statement read, “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 had refuted the allegations against her, saying that no one will embezzle government funds under her watch as her ministry’s watchwords are integrity accountability, and that the claims were efforts of her opponents to see about her downfall.Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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