Insight Northeast Nigeria

Tag: Betta Edu

  • EFCC Recovers N30 Billion, Probes 50 Bank Accounts In Betta Edu’s Investigation

    EFCC Recovers N30 Billion, Probes 50 Bank Accounts In Betta Edu’s Investigation

    The EFCC has recovered N30 billion for the Federal Government and is currently investigating 50 bank accounts as part of their investigation into the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the former CEO of the (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

    the executive chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, shared that progress was being made in the investigation. He highlighted the seriousness of the case and urged Nigerians to be patient.

    “We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the
    investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.

    “Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it. And we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.

    “As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal. Then you ask
    about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on.

    “Nigerians have seen the impact of what we have done so far, by way of some people being placed on suspension and by way of the recoveries that we have made. You have seen that the programme itself has been suspended.

    “We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation. If it is about seeing people in jail, well let them wait, everything has a process to follow. So Nigerians should wait and give us the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

  • EFCC Grills AGF Over Alleged N585.2m Fraud Link To Suspended Minister Edu

    EFCC Grills AGF Over Alleged N585.2m Fraud Link To Suspended Minister Edu

    EFCC has interrogated the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, over an alleged link to a N585.2m fraud involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu.

    The AGF was quizzed by EFCC interrogators at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja on Monday.
    She was grilled for over six hours, and was released with no condition in the evening.

    The source said, “The Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, has been invited and interrogated by the commission. She was grilled for over six hours on Monday over the payment of N585.2m from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

    “The AGF was not detained, and she was released with no condition after she made her explanation in writing to the investigators during interrogation. However, she told interrogators that she didn’t approve the memo from Minister Edu for the payment into a private account.”

  • EFCC Seizes Travel Documents of Suspended Minister Betta Edu and Predecessor Sadiya Farouq

    EFCC Seizes Travel Documents of Suspended Minister Betta Edu and Predecessor Sadiya Farouq

    EFCC on Tuesday seized the travel documents of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu and her predecessor Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq.

    The EFCC also impounded the international passport of the suspended National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) Halima Shehu.

    The trio are being interrogated over allegations of financial crime levelled against them.

    The passport seizure was part of the conditions for granting them administrative bail.

    The travel papers are to be with the commission pending the conclusion of the investigation. 

    EFCC source said: “We have asked all those under interrogation to submit their travelling documents. We have seized the passports of Betta, Sadiya, Halima and others.

    “For Betta, who was grilled from 11 am till 6 pm, she was the last to be granted bail yesterday.

    “We demanded their passports to restrict their movement, to enable them to be available for interrogation. They are all cooperating with us.”

    Sources said the three managing directors of banks were quizzed over their suspected conspiracy.
    The banks were accused of refusal to raise “red flags” and gross involvement in suspicious transactions.

    The banks were alleged to have violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amendment) 2023, especially Sections 5, 10, and 16(b).

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  • Breaking: Tinubu Suspends Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu

    Breaking: Tinubu Suspends Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu

    In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.

    Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the minister’s suspension in a statement on Monday afternoon.

    The President 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.

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  • Presidency Opens Up On Tinubu’s Minister, Betta Edu’s N585m Scandal

    Presidency Opens Up On Tinubu’s Minister, Betta Edu’s N585m Scandal

    Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

    The Presidency has said the appropriate authorities are investigating the financial irregularity involving the transfer of N585.189 million by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

    President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said appropriate action would be taken after the investigation.

    “The matter is under investigation.
    “Appropriate Action will be taken thereafter,” he told Daily Trust.

    About N585.189 million, meant for the vulnerable in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, was reportedly diverted into a private account.

    This led to widespread outrage and a call for Edu’s sack and prosecution.

    In a viral document signed by Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister 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.

    Amid the widespread outrage, Edu, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, said the payment followed due process.