President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, ordered the immediate suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office.
Her suspension followed her authorisation of the deposit of $585.189 million meant for the vulnerable in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, into a private account.
In a viral document signed by Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister directed the disbursement of said amount into the private account of one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu.
Announcing the immediate suspension of the minister in a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said: “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.”
Edu’s action had elicited wild condemnation by a cross section of Nigerians, who called for her sack.
Interestingly, the minister had insisted that her action followed due process.
