The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confiscated the passports of suspended Minister Betta Edu and her predecessor Sadiya Umar-Farouq amid ongoing investigations into ministry scandals.

The Edu scandal unfolded with a leaked memo exposing the suspended minister instructing the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585 million to a private account linked to Oniyelu Bridget, identified as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups in the ministry. The minister contended that the funds were intended for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, dismissing the accusations as unfounded.

President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu on Monday and instructed her to hand over duties to the permanent secretary in the ministry. Edu complied with the EFCC summons on Tuesday, enduring extensive questioning. Investigators confiscated both her personal and official passports, imposing travel restrictions. Umar-Farouq, Edu’s predecessor, faced a 12-hour interrogation on Monday regarding the alleged N37.1 billion laundering during her tenure. As part of her bail conditions, the ex-minister’s passport was seized before her eventual release late Monday night.

“The commission has seized the passports of the two ministers, Sadiya Shehu and Betta Edu. We have also seized Mrs Halima Shehu’s passport pending the conclusion of investigations. The commission does not want to risk having any of them leave the country while they still have questions to answer,” a source told Punch.

Ada Peter