The latest update on the NPower, Betta Edu, and Humanitarian Ministry scandal for January 22, 2024, involves the suspended Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Betta Edu, who has been accused of diverting a significant sum of government funds into a private account.
The scandal has sparked controversy and public outrage, with many calling for accountability and transparency in the ministry’s operations.
Betta Edu has claimed that her hands are clean and that she is committed to fighting corruption amidst the uproar surrounding her suspension.
She has also stated that she is fighting corruption and that her request to wire funds into a private account was not illegal.
However, the accountant-general, Oluwatoyin Madein, has said that Edu flouted financial regulations by requesting funds be wired into a private account.
The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited Betta Edu for investigation over her alleged involvement in the N585 million scandal.
The NSIPA, the agency responsible for implementing the government’s social welfare and empowerment programs, has been suspended by the Federal Government.
The scandal has also triggered far-reaching reforms in the government’s intervention programs, with stakeholders calling for a more transparent and accountable leadership recruitment process in the ministry.
The Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, has described the financial scandals in the Humanitarian Ministry as unfortunate and has called for the President to be more sincere in fighting corruption to save the nation.
Betta Edu: Why EFCC Must Be Allowed To Do Its Job – APC Chieftain
A leading figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has urged the Nigerian public to throw their weight behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as it investigates the alleged misappropriation of N583 million by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
In a statement delivered to the press by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, over the weekend, Mumuni stressed the significance of allowing the EFCC to carry out its inquiry without external interference. This appeal comes amidst the controversy surrounding Edu’s suspension over accusations of diverting a significant sum of government funds into a private account.
Mumuni also commented on President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend the minister, urging caution in public discussions concerning the president’s actions. He emphasized that baseless speculations and criticisms could undermine national interests and hinder the ongoing legal proceedings.
Additionally, the APC stalwart defended President Tinubu’s initial appointment of Edu, highlighting it as a progressive step given her dual identity as both a woman and a youth. Mumuni argued that the president’s decisive action in suspending Edu in the face of allegations should be commended, illustrating a commitment to accountability and good governance.
The renowned author and security expert, who ran as the gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 in Lagos State, commended Tinubu for appointing a female to lead the ministry. He suggested that the suspension, despite Edu’s promising performance, should be viewed positively as a demonstration of the president’s dedication to weeding out corruption.
Mumuni urged Nigerians not to prematurely judge the situation but to allow the EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation. He called for unity and cooperation in working towards good governance, encouraging citizens to support the president in eliminating corruption from the government.
In conclusion, Mumuni acknowledged the longstanding issue of corruption in Nigeria but expressed optimism that, with the citizens’ support, the country could overcome these challenges and usher in a better era of governance.
EFCC Quizzes AGF Over N585 Million Humanitarian Ministry Scandal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an inquiry into the alleged involvement of the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, in a N585.2 million fraud case related to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
According to reports from Punch Newspaper, EFCC investigators conducted the questioning of the AGF on Monday at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. Madein underwent more than six hours of interrogation and was subsequently released without any conditions later in the evening.
The focus of the inquiry was the transfer of N585.2 million in public funds from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs into the personal bank account of a government official, as confirmed by a credible anti-graft source.
Betta Edu: Tinubu approved N3bn for register verification
Indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu may have indeed directed Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief Of staff, to sign the President’s memo, authorising Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, to spend from the COVID palliative fund, contrary to speculation that the funds were diverted.
A memo sighted by BusinessDay from the Chief of the Staff to the President has revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved the now suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, for the release of N3 billion to verify the National Social Register, which was initially compiled under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The leaked memo showed that the President gave his assent on the 14 of September , 2023
The social register had been created for cash transfers and other social investment programmes.
In conclusion, the latest update on the NPower, Betta Edu, and Humanitarian Ministry scandal for January 22, 2024, involves the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, who has been accused of diverting a significant sum of government funds into a private account.
The scandal has sparked controversy and public outrage, with many calling for accountability and transparency in the ministry’s operations. The EFCC has invited Betta Edu for investigation, and the NSIPA has been suspended by the Federal Government.
The scandal has also triggered far-reaching reforms in the government’s intervention programs, with stakeholders calling for a more transparent and accountable leadership recruitment process in the ministry.