In a swift and decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect. The suspension comes in the wake of a controversial memo that surfaced, revealing the minister’s directive to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.
The announcement of the suspension was made by the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement issued on Monday afternoon. Ngelale emphasized that the decision was in line with President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the country’s resources.
The statement read, “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.”
Betta Edu has been directed to hand over her responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The President emphasized the importance of her full cooperation with the investigating authorities during the course of their inquiry.
In addition to the suspension and investigation, President Tinubu has tasked a panel, led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programs. The aim is to reform relevant institutions and programs, eliminating any institutional frailties and rebuilding public confidence in the initiative.
