By Toyosi Ogunmade (Anti-Corruption Reporter)
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, began interrogation of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, over the current allegation of N585 million fraud against her.
Edu was asked to step aside from her job in the interim by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was compelled by the public outrage over the volume of public funds involved in the fraud act. The fund was meant for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in Ogun, Cross River, Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.
The embattled female minister arrived the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, and was immediately taken in for grilling by the officials of the Anti-graft Commission.
Edu was suspended same Monday, January 9, 2024 that her predecessor in office, Sadiya Umar Farouq, submitted herself to the EFCC over alleged fraud of N37.17 billion while as minister in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Edu, who at 37 is the youngest Minister in President Tinubu’s cabinet, now holds the ignoble record of being the first minister to be suspended from office since the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was inaugurated last August.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, blew the whistle on the scandal when she received a request from the Humanitarian Ministry that the said sum be paid into a private account. But the Accountant General refused to act on it as it contravened extant financial regulations.
Edu was put the Humanitarian Ministry under spotlight last week when he suspended Ms. Halima Shehu, National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) from office.
The suspension of Halina Shehu was connected to the alleged movement of N44 billion from the agency’s account into some suspicious accounts in the last four days of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.
Presently, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Betta Edu and Halima Shehu are telling interrogators at the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja, all they know about the various accusations slammed on them. (with reports from the crestonline). NNL.
