Tinubu Minister Betta Edu Under Fire As Calls For Her Resignation Intensifies

President Tinubu Betta Edu has come under fire as calls for her resignation have intensified.

 

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called for the resignation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over allegations of financial impropriety.

In a statement released on Sunday, Falana strongly criticized Edu for what he termed “betraying the confidence reposed in her” and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite its investigation into the matter.

 

READ ALSO: Tinubu Orders Comprehensive Investigation Into Betta Edu’s Ministry

 

The controversy centres around an alleged directive by Edu to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585,198,500.00 intended for vulnerable groups in four states into a personal account belonging to Oniyelu Bridget.

 

Falana described the situation as an “extremely embarrassing drama”, highlighting the severity of the allegations against the minister.

 

While the AGF, Madein, clarified that her office received the request but did not act on it, Edu has defended herself, suggesting that there are efforts to tarnish her reputation.

 

She assured that she had not embezzled government funds. However, Falana pointed out that Edu has not explicitly denied the approval of the funds transfer to a private account, which he views as a failure to directly address the main issue.

 

He said, “It is interesting to note that the minister has not denied that she gave approval for the payment of over half a billion Naira to a private account in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.

 

“Instead of apologising to the Federal Government and people of Nigeria and calling it quits for betraying the confidence reposed in her, the Minister has arrogantly said that the N585.18 million fraud allegation is a mere fabrication by her detractors and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort in fighting corruption and uplifting the needy.

 

“However, notwithstanding that the Accountant-General of the Federation has successfully frustrated the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million from the public treasury, it is crystal clear from the leaked memorandum of the Minister that the offence of an attempt to commit a felony has already been completed.

“There can be no legal justification for the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people.”

 

PDP Demands Sack Of Betta Edu Over Alleged Fraud

 

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the sack and prosecution of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over her alleged involvement in a fraud case running into several billions of naira.

The PDP, in a statement on Sunday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said it is a heartbreaking event for the Minister to be involved in the alleged looting of funds meant for the wellbeing of the poor.

 

It added that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is allegedly working with two prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) officials in the Presidency and the National Assembly, to divert billions of government naira to personal accounts.

 

The party therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to sack Edu and for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute the embattled Minister.

 

The PDP added that the revelation of the alleged looting of N44 billion from the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) fund, including the N585.2 million audaciously diverted by the Minister into a private account, is a tip of the iceberg of the corruption going on in the administration of President Tinubu and the APC.

 

The full PDP statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands the immediate sack and prosecution of the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, @edu_betta over the alleged looting of N44 billion National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) fund, including the N585.2 million audaciously diverted by her to a private account.

 

“The exposed fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is just a tip of the iceberg of the unprecedented treasury looting, unbridled stealing and plundering of resources going on in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which has practically brought the nation’s economy to its knees.

 

“Is it not tragic and heartbreaking that a Minister entrusted with public funds to support millions of poor Nigerians who have been impoverished by the APC, turned around to 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; a haven for thieves and treasury looters.

 

“Nigerians were shocked by reports of how Betta Edu and the suspended National Coordinator of NSIPA, Halima Shehu allegedly engaged in brazen looting of billions of Naira while Nigerians who the funds are meant for are deprived and abandoned to excruciating hardship and misery.

 

“Equally disheartening is the reports of how Betta Edu allegedly directed the transfer of the N585.2 million NSIPA money into the private account of one of her fronts in clear violation of Chapter 7, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations, 2009 which expressly prohibits the payment of public money into a private account.

 

“For emphasis, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations, 2009 provides that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with a fraudulent intention”.

 

“The apparent fraudulent intention by Betta Edu in diverting public funds into a private account; an action which was appropriately declared illegal by the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, is consistent with APC’s character and proclivity for plundering of public resources.

 

“The lack of remorse by the Minister especially in her lame attempt to justify the illegal diversion of funds meant for poor Nigerians is also consistent with the insensitivity, heartlessness, impunity, and criminal audacity inherent in the APC administration.

 

“A very disturbing information in the public domain indicates that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is allegedly working with two prominent APC officials in the Presidency and the National Assembly, who are alleged to be using Ministers and other officials of government to divert billions of naira to personal accounts.

 

“Additional information reveals that there are moves to use the suspended National Coordinator of NSIPA, Halima Shehu as a scapegoat so as to sweep the involvement of the Minister and the said APC leaders under the carpet.

 

“What Nigerians demand of President Tinubu at the moment is to demonstrate commitment to the fight against corruption by immediately sacking Betta Edu, hand her over for investigation, prosecution and take steps to recover the stolen N44 billion and channel the fund recovered towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.

 

“The PDP also demands that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) @officialEFCC immediately invite Betta Edu for questioning and take further steps to commence a system-wide investigation into the alleged large-scale corruption and treasury looting pervading in Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) under the APC administration.”

 

Meanwhile, in a related development, NewsOnline Nigeria reports that several civil society organizations have vehemently called for the dismissal of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betty Edu.

 

The groups accuse Edu of directing the controversial payment and are urging the president to take decisive action against such acts of impunity.

 

Civil society organizations emphasize the need for the presidency to not only investigate but also enforce strict consequences.

 

Their demands include the immediate removal of Edu from her ministerial position and her subsequent interrogation by anti-corruption agencies.

 

This strong stance reflects a growing impatience with governmental misconduct and a push for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds.

 

The incident has raised serious questions about the management of funds meant for the welfare of vulnerable populations.

 

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told Daily Trust on Saturday, “The matter is under investigation.

 

“Appropriate Action will be taken thereafter.”

 

In a viral document signed by her and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Edu directed the disbursement of N585.189 million into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.

 

The leaked document revealed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.

 

The minister had, in a statement on Friday by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, said the payment followed due process.

 

Zubair had explained that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account because she currently serves as the project accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

 

He said it is legal in the civil service for a staff member, to be paid, use the same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.

 

The Executive Director of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) Global Resource Initiative, Buna Olaitan Isiak, urged Tinubu “to set up a panel to probe the matter so as to set precedence for future culprits.

 

“Payment of humongous public funds into a private account is purely corruption no matter the merit of her (Edu’s) defence. This is a violation of all the anti-corruption laws of Nigeria.

 

“The development is an opportunity to test the sincerity of President Tinubu on his willingness and determination to fight corruption and the readiness of his government to depart from the past ways of doing things.

“By now, Betta (Edu) should be a guest of relevant anti-corruption agencies to answer questions about how our funds escaped to a private account. It is not too late to act.”