President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Olokoyede to ‘thoroughly’ investigate Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Tinubu’s directive was contained in a statement signed by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement said the President’s directive 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.
“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.
“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,” Ngelale stated.
Leaked documents had revealed that Edu instructed the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay the sum of N585.18 million into a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.
The Ministry claimed the said Oniyelu currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun states.
But the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, rejected Edu’s directive and refused to pay the said sum.
N585m scandal: Tinubu orders EFCC to conduct ‘thorough’ investigation
