Following her suspension by President Bola Tinubu on Monday over alleged N585.1 million fraud, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Better Edu may face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today.
The suspended minister who was alleged to have requested the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein to transfer a sum of N585.1 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, said to be a Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Group, was asked to proceed on immediate suspension while the EFCC chairman, Mr Ola Olukayode was directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the aspect of the financial transactions involving her ministry and other agencies under her.
Shortly after her suspension, Edu who arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the intention of having a physical discussion with President Tinubu was denied access.
While she was able to clear all security checks up to the president’s office, she was however blocked from seeing Tinubu, just as her access card to the presidential villa was withdrawn by the president’s security team.
Besides that, she was also ferried out of the president’s office in a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to State House security.
However, it could not be immediately ascertained whether she was later allowed to use her official vehicle out of the presidential villa premise.
Meanwhile, Tinubu had suspended Edu, from office with immediate effect.
The development followed the decision to investigate the alleged corruption issues that have emerged in her ministry, which have been dominating the media space in the last few days.
A statement announcing her suspension on Monday and signed by the Special Adviser to the President Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, said the action is in line with president’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
Similarly, Edu was directed to hand over to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
The statement reads: “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.
It is recalled that Tinubu had on Sunday, directed thorough investigation to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the allegation against the minister.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had in a statement, said Tinubu is committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilised effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.
He said the government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.
However, barely 15 minutes after the announcement of her suspension, our correspondent who visited the ministry gathered that Edu left the office on receipt of the suspension letter which was delivered by an official from the State House.
It was further gathered that all the security and protocol officers attached to her have been recalled back to the official headquarters, in line with the modus operandi of their organisational services.
In another development, the anti-graft agency has invited the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu, to appear before it for interrogation.
A source in the EFCC informed that an invitation letter had been sent to the suspended minister following her suspension and she was directed to come over to the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday (today).
“We have invited her (Edu) for questioning. She is expected to come on Tuesday,” said the source.
Edu’s suspension: You can’t question Tinubu’s wisdom —Uzodimma
Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma has thrown his weight behind Tinubu’s suspension of Edu, over allegations of fraud.
He told correspondents after a meeting with the president at the presidential villa, Abuja on Monday, that the action is consistent with the laws of the country.
Uzodimma, who had been asked as the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum to react to the cases of fraud under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the way Tinubu has dealt with them, said: “Well, like, you know, this is very clear. Whether progressive governors forum, or whether as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question.
“And what is more, if there are allegations and the president said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to.
“So, I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media. So, I think let’s allow the sleeping dog to lie.”
Uzodimma also expressed confidence that if the 2024 federal budget is implemented even at 50 percent level, it is capable bringing great positive change to the country.
Performance on that document, it will not be the same Nigeria. So, we already saw the presentation.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then