From Victor Osula, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has directed the suspension of 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.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Chief Ajuri Ngelale the suspended Minister has been directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and 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.”
The Minister had caused N585 million to be paid to a private UBA account contrary to extant statutes. The money was meant for vulnerable persons in Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Lagos and Ogun under the poverty alleviation programme of the government.
Edu insisted she acted within the law until the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, clarified that her office does not make payments on behalf of government agencies, adding that though she received the letter from Edu, OAGF does not make payments for projects and programmes implemented by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
She added that the money was supposed to be paid directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries.
