By Ken Afor
The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has been granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She was released after an extensive interrogation session.
The investigation focused on her authorization of a payment worth approximately N585 million from the ministry’s funds into a civil servant’s personal account.
TheNewDiplomat recalls that on Monday, President Bola Tinubu took the decision to suspend Edu from her position and directed the EFCC to conduct an investigation into the approval and other scandalous revelations that have come to light, which has caused significant public outrage.
Consequently, the EFCC promptly summoned her to appear at their headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to reports, Edu accepted the invitation and was detained until evening on Tuesday, when she was eventually granted bail.
No further details were made available by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale regarding the specific terms and conditions of her release.
“She was given bail yesterday’s night. I want to tell you that the investigation still continues. I cannot speak further on the details,” wrote Premium Times, quoting Mr Oyewale.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quoting a source, the suspended minister was present at the commission’s main office on Tuesday morning.
“An official invitation by the commission was sent to her on Monday and she honoured the invitation on Tuesday.
“She is being interrogated by the commission and she is expected to give proper insight into the issue at hand,’’ NAN stated.
According to the outlet, Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, who was the first minister of the Ministry of Social Development, Disaster Management, and Humanitarian Affairs, returned to the commission for questioning on Tuesday.
This came after she was granted bail on Monday. Umar-Farouk is currently under investigation for her alleged involvement in the laundering of a substantial amount of N37.1 billion by officials of the ministry during her time as minister.
Similarly, according to an insider who spoke to the outlet, Halima Shehu, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), who is currently suspended, is still under investigation by the EFCC.
Shehu was entrusted with the task of supervising the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, which was introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari to provide assistance to disadvantaged groups and individuals.
The scandal involved the approval of a substantial amount of money being transferred into the personal accounts of civil servants.
Nigerians have expressed their disapproval towards Edu for authorizing the transfer of N585.2 million into the private bank account of a civil servant who oversees grants for Vulnerable Nigerians.
It would be recalled that few days following Edu’s decision to suspend Shehu due to alleged financial misconduct, confidential documents were made public, revealing that she had authorized a payment of N585.2 million into the personal bank account of a civil servant. This civil servant happens to be the accountant responsible for overseeing Grants for Vulnerable Nigerians, a program under Edu’s ministry.
Also, a leaked memo revealed that in December, the minister had formally requested Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), to transfer the aforementioned funds from the NSIPA’s account to the private bank account of Bridget Oniyelu. Oniyelu serves as the accountant for a federal government initiative known as Grants for Vulnerable Groups, which falls under the jurisdiction of Edu’s ministry.
The statement suggests that the act is in compliance with Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009, aimed at preventing fraud and corruption in government business.
According to Edu’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair, she maintains that the practice is lawful within the country’s civil service and claims she is being singled out due to her anti-corruption stance.
However, Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.”
It also added that “Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”
Meanwhile, Oluwatoyin Madein, the AGF, clarified her position on the controversy, stating that her agency had advised the ministry on the appropriate method for such transfers.
Consequently, Edu was suspended by President Tinubu.
