President Tinubu sends relief Minister, Dr. Betta Edu on suspension over alleged fraud
Ever since a leaked memo linking his minister to alleged fraud, curious lights from all directions had beamed on the president to see if he was going to open the door to an investigation or brush the noise aside.
Although analysts feared that the outcome would go the opposite direction, it didn’t. That has birthed a decision by President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
The minister had started the year 2024 with a homecoming event in her home state of Cross River where traditional leaders and the local community celebrated her appointment into Mr Tinubu’s cabinet. But like a flash, the whole scenario changed from celebration to her alleged involvement in requesting ₦585.2 million to be paid into a personal account.
According to a leaked memo, Dr Edu directed the request to the Accountant General of the Federation’s office on 20 December 2023, and in just about three weeks, her action has brewed consequences.
That consequence is a statement published today by the Presidential Spokesperson Chief Ajuri Ngelale. It contained an instruction from President Tinubu asking the minister to step aside for a moment while the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) performs an in-depth search to unravel any illegality if it exists.
“In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
“The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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.
“The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
Ever since the leaked memo linking his minister to alleged fraud sprout out to social media, curious lights from all directions had beamed on Mr. Tinubu to see if he was going to open the door to an investigation or brush the noise aside.
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Already, critics blame the president’s speedy reforms for many economic difficulties daily confronting Nigerians, so were he to have ignored the accusation being thrown at the youngest minister in his cabinet, there would have been questions raised about his sincerity and willingness to face corruption head-on.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
