Suspended Minister, Betta Edu, to report at EFCC, Tuesday, for questioning

By Isaac Aregbesola/Ismail Abdulaziz

Abuja, Jan. 8, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to its headquarters in Abuja, for questioning over alleged fraud.

A source at the EFCC confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the suspended minister had been summoned and was expected to be at the commission’s office tomorrow, Tuesday.

The suspension of the Minister by President Bola Tinubu with immediate effect on Monday, had been announced via a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who said that the move was in line with Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

Ngelale had said that the President directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.

He said the suspended Minister was also directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

The suspended Minister was 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.

This is with a view to conclusively reform 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.

The EFCC source said that the invitation of Edu followed her suspension from office by President Tinubu over a controversial N585.189 million payment to a private bank account.

Tinubu had on Monday suspended Edu from office with immediate effect and ordered the EFCC to fully investigate the activities of the ministry.

The invitation was sent to the suspended minister less than 30 minutes after President Tinubu announced her suspension from office.

According to the source, the EFCC had earlier recommended the suspension of the minister to pave way for thorough investigation.

The source said that the minister’s suspension would give the commission the liberty to do its job thoroughly as directed by the President.

“An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her.

“We expect her to honour the invitation and come to the commission on Tuesday to give proper insight into the issue at hand,” the source added.