Facts have emerged on why Tinubu descended on Betta Edu, by ordering her suspension from office
By Emma Ogbuehi
Facts have emerged on why President Bola Tinubu descended on the embattled minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu, by ordering her suspension from office. The President took the measure to sell the impression of being in charge and zero-tolerance for corruption.
The controversies surrounding Edu, took a new twist on Monday, as Tinubu suspended her from office with immediate effect.
Tinubu also directed 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 under her.
Edu was equally directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation on her ministry.
This was disclose in a release by the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelari.
The statement read:
“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.
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“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 has come under fire since the memo surfaced where she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the money to a private account owned by one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu, who the ministry claimed serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG).
The leaked memo, dated 20 December 2023, was not honoured by Madein because the request did not follow due process.
Following the furore generated by the leaked memo, many Nigerians have been calling for the sack and prosecution of the minister. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were among individuals and groups who demanded the sack and prosecution of Edu by weekend.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described it as tragic and heartbreaking that a Minister entrusted with public funds to support millions of poor Nigerians turned around to allegedly divert hundreds of millions of naira meant for the wellbeing of the poor.
“The continuing stay of Betta Edu as Minister is therefore provocative and amounts to stealing from a people and daring them to do their worst. It further confirms our party’s position that the Tinubu-led APC government is a cesspit of corruption.”
Efforts by the presidency to douse the tension generated by the development, including assuring that no stone would be left unturned in getting to the heart of the matter, did not assuage critics of the minister. Even fellow members of her APC, were discreetly involved in the Edu-must-go campaign, which by Monday, had assumed a national embarrassment.
Our Reporter learnt that it was in a bid to appear to be listening to the voices seeking the minister’s ouster and sell the impression of zero-tolerance to corruption that made Tinubu wield the big stick against her. An Aso Rock source who pleaded anonymity told this medium that “Tinubu did not want the issue which has turned to a national embarrassment to continue. He needed to act to assure Nigerians that he was still in charge. But more than that, he wanted to sell the impression that his administration had zero-tolerance for corruption. How far the measure will go will however be seen in the days ahead.