N585m Fraud: Tinubu Suspends Humanitarian Minister, Betta Edu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.

The President also ordered the Chairman of the Finacial 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.”

Edu’s immediate suspension is sequel to public umbrage over a leaked memo, last week, indicating that the Minister had ordered the payment of over N585 million to a private account in flagrant contravention of extant financial regulations.

Coincidentally, Betta Edu’s predecessor in the same office, Sadiya Umar Farouq, this morning, also submitted herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged diversion of N37.17 billion under her watch.

Announcing Betta Edu’s suspension, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President’s action was in line “with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians...”

Below is the full text of the statement by the Presidency:

“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. 

“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. 

“These directives of the President take immediate effect.”