- By Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited the suspended minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu over allegations that she approved the transfer of government funds to the tune of N585m into a private account.
Though attempts to confirm the invitation from the spokesman of the commission, Mr. Dele Oyewale, proved abortive as at press time as his telephone line was not reachable.
It was however gathered that the head office of the commission in Abuja had been sufficiently briefed by the presidency after the directive from President Bola Tinubu for her suspension and immediate commencement of probe by the anti-graft agencies.
In a statement released by Ajuri Ngelale, the President had earlier directed 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 under the ministry.
“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,” the statement said
It furthermore said the President 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.”