N585m Humanitarian Scandal: Tinubu Orders Probe of Betta Edu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive probe into the activities of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.

The President is reacting to the accusation of financial impropriety leveled against the Minister in the wake of her attempt to transfer 585 million naira of public funds into a private account.

The Minister had in a memo to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), requested the payment of the said sum to a private account to prosecute poverty alleviation programmes in some states.

While the Minister justified her request, the AGF had on Saturday disowned her, saying her request was illegal.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, has also announced the government’s decision to investigate the scandal.

The Ministry in a press statement Sunday acknowledged the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, saying: “We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and wish to assure Nigerians that the Government takes these issues most seriously.”

“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.

“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.

“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process,” the statement read in part.