Tinubu suspends Betta Edu over N585m ‘fraud’ Barred from meeting president after suspension To report at EFCC headquarters today President’s action can’t be questioned – APC govs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
The suspension was announced in a statement on Monday by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
A viral document signed by the suspended minister and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had revealed that she ordered the payment of N585m cash into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
The leaked document showed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
The minister’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair, had in a statement on Friday said the payment followed due process.
Edu had also, in a statement she posted on her Facebook page on Saturday, said the allegation was baseless.
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday said Tinubu had directed a thorough investigation into the matter, adding that any breaches would be decisively punished.
Tinubu on Monday said the suspension 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 statement 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.
“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.”
Daily Trust reports that Ms Edu was sighted in the Presidential Villa after the announcement of her suspension but was barred from meeting with the president.
She, however, left the State House around 2:30pm in a black SUV after being denied access to the president.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the suspended minister to its headquarters located in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, today.
The invitation came less than 30 minutes after the president announced Edu’s immediate suspension.
An operative of the EFCC, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the immediate suspension of the minister in order to pave the way for investigation.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and
Governor of Imo State, while reacting to the suspension of the minister by President Tinubu, said the decision could not be questioned.
He added: “Well, like, you know, this is very clear. Whether Progressive Governor’s Forum, or whether as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question. And what is more, if there are allegations and the president said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to.
“So, I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media. So, I think let’s allow the sleeping dog to lie.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has said the suspension of Dr. Edu is a confirmation that President Tinubu is serious about fighting corruption in his government.
He also urged the president to immediately curtail the excesses of an emerging political cartel, warning that it may destabilise his administration if unchecked.
The senator, who stated this in a telephone conversation with newsmen on Monday, alleged fraud committed by the suspended minister may not be isolated.