After pledging to take action, Tinubu orders an investigation into Edu’s ministry.
President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive investigation into the actions of Betta Edu, the head of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
On Sunday, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, made this public in a statement.
The purported sanction of N585,198,500.00 to be transferred into a personal account has engulfed Edu in controversy.
The humanitarian minister supposedly signed a letter instructing Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), to transfer the funds to the account of Oniyelu Bridget as a grant for vulnerable populations in four states.
Madein clarified, however, that despite the humanitarian ministry requesting specific payments, her office did not carry them out.
Edu, the president’s youngest minister at 37 years old, later denied allegations that she embezzled public monies and claimed that her reputation was being smeared.
Interestingly, Sadiya Farouq, who served as a minister under the government of former president Muhammadu Buhari, is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering N37.1 billion. Farouq was Edu’s predecessor.
The communications minister announced on Sunday that the “government is determined to discover the facts.” in response to the outcry over Edu’s humanitarian ministry’s new direction.
Based on recent occurrences, the president has ordered an exhaustive investigation to confirm the information that have been reported, according to Idris.
“In accordance with the administration’s dedication to public accountability and due process, the government is resolute in its pursuit of the truth regarding this matter and promises to take necessary measures to identify and severely penalise any violations or breaches.”
Nigerians would be kept apprised of the investigation’s development, according to the ministry of information.
As the investigation progresses, we ask that Nigerians be patient. “The administration is committed to maintaining an impartial and fair process, and we will ensure that the public is duly and transparently informed of the findings,” he stated.