Amidst growing public outrage surrounding the messy disbursement scandal involving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action by suspending the 37-year-old minister from the cabinet with immediate effect. This marks the first suspension of a member from Tinubu’s 48-man cabinet.
Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale released a statement on Monday afternoon, revealing that President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all financial transactions involving the ministry and its associated agencies.
The controversy revolves around Edu’s alleged approval of N585,198,500.00 to be disbursed into a personal account. In a letter purportedly signed by the minister, she 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 receiving the request from the humanitarian ministry but clarified that her office did not act on it.
Edu, in response, claimed there were plans to tarnish her image, asserting her commitment to not embezzle government funds.
Coincidentally, the EFCC is currently investigating Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, over alleged money laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure as a minister in the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The calls for Edu’s suspension have escalated in recent days, with human rights activist Femi Falana urging her resignation, labeling the entire controversy an “extremely embarrassing drama.” Falana criticized Edu for failing to deny approving funds for payment to a private account instead of direct transfer to the beneficiaries’ accounts from the ministry.
Plea for Justice: SERAP Reacts to Controversial Payment
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has echoed the call for justice in the controversial payment case involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
SERAP emphasized that anyone suspected of being involved in improper payment or diversion of public funds should face legal consequences, with diverted funds promptly returned to the public treasury for rightful beneficiaries.
President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action, directing Edu to cooperate fully with investigating authorities and hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
The President has also formed a panel, led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial structure of social investment programs.
The goal is to reform relevant institutions and programs to eliminate institutional weaknesses, thereby restoring public confidence in the initiative.
“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.”
Betta Edu Spotted at Villa, Denied Meeting Tinubu After Suspension
Meanwhile the recently suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, was spotted at the Aso Villa in Abuja moments after her suspension on Monday afternoon, as confirmed by Channels Television.
However, she was reportedly denied access to President Bola Tinubu.
Despite her efforts, Edu was seen leaving the Villa about 30 minutes after her suspension was officially announced.
A Chapter Closed?
Betta Edu, at 37, the youngest member of the President’s cabinet before her suspension, had swiftly risen in the political arena, holding significant state and national positions at a young age.
Before her ministerial appointment in August, she served as Cross River State Commissioner for Health and held the position of National Women Leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Edu played a notable role in the campaign for President Tinubu during the election that brought him into office.
Her ministerial tenure, which began about three months after Tinubu assumed the presidency, proved to be short-lived, lasting barely six months – one of the shortest ministerial tenures in recent memory.
Ada Peter
