President Tinubu Suspends Betta Edu Over Alleged Payment Of N585m Into Private Account

 

President Bola Almed Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect, following controversy over alleged diversion of N585million meant for humanitarian projects to private account  

 

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale who  announced the suspension in a statement obtained by Edu-Biznews on Monday, said the move was to demonstrate the present  administration's commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians

Ngelale in the statement also said Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been directed 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 according to the statement,  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", the statement concluded