Embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, was on Monday January 8, 2024 suspended from office with immediate effect, in the aftermath of fraud allegations leveled against her that elicited public outrage.
Edu allegedly paid N585 million of public money into a personal bank account.
A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, said President Bola Tinubu 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.”
In his reaction to the suspension, Senator Ali Ndume claimed that a cabal is about to hijack the Tinubu administration, adding that “The president must act swiftly and dismantle the cartel.”
Senator Ndume, who commended President Tinubu for his suspension of embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, for proper investigation of financial sleaze in her ministry, however, declared that the axed Minister did not act alone but with connivance with certain individuals who have since formed a cartel in the Tinubu Presidency.
He cautioned that, if not curtailed, the emerging political cabal could destabilise the administration of President Tinubu. He said, “What President Tinubu has done is very timely. The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is a welcome development. It will allow the relevant agencies to conduct a proper investigation.
“Some people in the same position Tinubu is in would not have acted. But as the leader in charge, he acted swiftly, and the minister has been suspended. We should commend the president. This is something Nigerians should commend.
“But the president should not stop there. There is an emerging political cartel within the corridors of power. The president must act swiftly and dismantle the cartel. “If they’re not stopped, they’ll be stronger and worse than the cabal. The president must not allow that to happen. I don’t think what the minister did was an isolated case. I don’t think she acted alone.
“The President needs to look deep and flush out those involved in mismanaging the funds meant for humanitarian assistance. We’re hopeful that the President will take more decisive actions in the future.”
