…directs anti-graft agency to probe ministry’s financial dealings
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, suspended embattled Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty alleviation with immediate effect.
Edu has been under fire after a memo in which she asked the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum of N585 million to a private account.
A statement on the Minister’s suspension issued by the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said Tinubu had directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to launch a comprehensive investigation into all financial transactions of Edu’s ministry, including all agencies under it.
The statement also directed the suspended Minister to immediately hand over her responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary in her Ministry.
It further enjoined her to fully cooperate with the anti-graft agencies in their investigations of the scandal.
President Tinubu has also established a panel under the chairmanship of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
The panel is charged with conducting an extensive diagnostic examination of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.
The statement said the objective is to implement comprehensive reforms to address any institutional weaknesses, ensuring the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and regaining confidence in the initiative.
The statement stressed that all directives issued by the President take immediate effect.
partly read, “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.”