President Tinubu Suspends Betta Edu Amidst N585M Scandal Probe

In a resolute effort to champion transparency and accountability within the government, President Bola Tinubu took decisive action on Monday by suspending Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, amidst allegations of an N585 million scandal that has ignited public outcry.

Betta Edu, born on October 27, 1986, is a Nigerian politician who recently served as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Before this role, she held significant positions, including the national women’s leader of the All Progressive Congress and the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, until her resignation in 2022. Additionally, she served as the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

The suspension was formally announced by President Tinubu‘s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who released a statement to the press.

“In adherence to his unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of Nigeria’s resources, President Bola Tinubu has suspended Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, from office with immediate effect,” read the official statement.

President Tinubu‘s decision follows his directive on Sunday for a thorough inquiry into the alleged N585 million scandal within the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. He emphasized his determination to take decisive action against those responsible for any breaches or infractions uncovered during the investigations.

Numerous voices, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Femi Falana, SAN, the Yoruba Youth Assembly, and various civil society groups, have called for an impartial investigation into the leaked memo by Minister Betta Edu. The memo allegedly instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, to transfer N585 million into the private bank account of a project accountant in her ministry, Bridget Oniyelu.

Minister Edu defended herself in response to the allegations, asserting that the payment was intended for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states. She refuted the accusations as baseless and justified the payment into a private account by citing legal provisions within the civil service that permit such transactions, especially for project accountants.

As the inquiry unfolds, the Nigerian public eagerly anticipates the outcome, hopeful for a fair and thorough investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.