By Soni Daniel, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, John Alechenu, Fortune Eromosele & Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA — A few hours after she was suspended by President Bola Tinubu over the N585 million scandal yesterday, embattled Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr Betta Edu, was not allowed to see the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigerian leader had earlier yesterday suspended Edu from office with immediate effect and directed 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.

She was accused of financial infractions bordering on the approval of payment of about N585 million into private accounts of a civil servant, who is said to be the accountant in charge of grants for vulnerable Nigerians in Akwa Ibom and other states.

The EFCC summoned Edu for interrogation and investigation in connection with the scandal today.

The suspension, according to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, is in line with President Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

The statement read: “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, 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.”

President Tinubu had earlier on Sunday, ordered a comprehensive probe into the alleged N585m scandal in the ministry and promised to “decisively punish” those involved in breaches and infractions unraveled during the investigations.

The minister has, however, denied any wrongdoing, saying the N585milliuon payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states and defended the action.

She said it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.

No access to Tinubu

Following her suspension, the minister had arrived at the presidential villa, Abuja, with the intention of having a physical discussion with the president.

While she was able to clear all security checks up to the president’s office, she was, however, blocked from seeing him in his office.

It was also learned that apart from being unable to have an audience with President Tinubu, her access tag to the villa was immediately withdrawn from her by the president’s security.

She and was ferried out of the president’s office in a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to State House security.
It was not immediately clear if she was later allowed to use her official vehicle out of the presidential villa premises.

EFCC yet to summon suspended minister

Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency, EFCC, is yet to summon the suspended minister for questioning, Vanguard has learned.

The development is at variance with claims by some reports that the suspended minister had already landed at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for interrogation.

A competent source told Vanguard that they were in the process of inviting Edu to the EFCC to answer questions on the alleged scam.

“We are in the process of inviting the suspended minister to answer questions on the cash. It is not true that she is already in our custody,” the EFCC source told Vanguard.

Vanguard also gathered that an invitation was being sent to her to report to the commission within the week.
A top source in the anti-graft agency confirmed to Vanguard that Dr. Edu would have her day with investigators as soon as possible in line with its determination to stamp out corruption from the public space.

The source said: “The Presidency has given a marching order to the commission to carry out a thorough investigation into the scam involving the suspended minister. I can assure you that there is going to be no form of interference in this EFCC in the conduct of its operations under this administration.

“Anywhere public funds and interest are involved, we will go to the bottom of the matter to fish out the culprits, no matter how connected and influential they may be, to protect public interest and prove to doubting Thomases that the era of looting public funds and getting away with it is over.

“We are not leaving any stone unturned in getting to the root of the scams that have been uncovered and Nigerians can count on us to see to the end of the cases through thorough, unimpeded probe.

“Anyone one who is caught in a corruption scandal will be thoroughly investigated and tried in accordance with our laws, no matter who is involved.’’

Spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for confirmation of the development at press time last night.

Sadiya may sleep in EFCC cell over N44bn scam

Similarly, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and Edu’s predecessor, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has started talking to interrogators at the EFCC over a N44 billion scam.

Umar-Farouq, who reported for interrogation at the EFCC headquarters, yesterday, was reported to have cooperated with operatives who quizzed her on her role in the alleged diversion of N44 billion from the ministry.

Although the details of her encounter with her investigators were not made available, a source close to the investigation told Vanguard that the former minister conducted herself in a civil manner and answered questions posed to her in relation to the scam.

However, as of the time of filing this report, she had not been released from the EFCC headquarters, Abuja, as a source said they were not aware whether she would be released on administrative bail before the end of the day or whether she would be made to spend the night in the custody of the agency.

CSOs, HURIWA react

Reacting to Edu’s suspension, the Director General of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff, said CSOs in Nigeria would not accept any administrative rascality and abuse of power by any appointees of the President.

His words: “Many Non-Governmental Organizations and Community-Based Organisations have been working vigorously developing various working concepts to align with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘’This is one of the reasons CSCHEI has set up a working template to evaluate and monitor 2024 budgets as approved by the President. Suspending the Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation is a strong warning to all government officials.

“CSCHEI will definitely work with relevant agencies to make sure that investigations into the allegation that led to her suspension are logically concluded. It’s not only embarrassing but also ridiculous hearing such financial administrative infractions.

“Seriously speaking, we have seen a President traveling around the globe marketing Nigeria Investment programmes. Hopefully, this may further increase Nigeria’s investment indexes. This is not the time for any government official to be indulging in financial misconduct that may negate the integrity of this administration.”

Edu’s suspension’s a right step — HURIWA

On its part, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, commended President Tinubu for suspending Edu, a call it had made on Saturday.

A statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that it was unthinkable that such a powerful, erstwhile national women leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Betta Edu, could have been suspended under the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We the people of Nigeria are happy that the President has responded swiftly, but it is expected that the process of investigation of all the allegations would be painstakingly carried out so we avoid the political situation whereby the entire process will turn out a charade or become a scenario of the ‘more you look the less you see’.

“We are watching and hoping that no stone is left unturned to ensure that not a single kobo belonging to the masses of Nigeria is diverted by crooked means. Enough is enough! We hope that this whole development wouldn’t turn out as ‘government magic’ which will become a disastrous betrayal of public trust,” the statement read.

HURIWA welcomed what it called a breath of fresh air in the leadership style of the current administration and hoped for a sustainable approach towards providing selfless services to the good people of Nigeria.

ActionAid hails Tinubu

In like manner, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, hailed President Tinubu over Edu’s suspension, saying the move was in line with its stance against graft.

The AAN Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, in a chat with Vanguard, said the AAN firmly stood against all forms of corruption, and demaneds that proper and in depth investigation was done and those found culpable made public for the sake of transparency.

He said: “The Nigerian constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and any decision concerning her tenure should be in line with legal procedures. While acknowledging the principle of innocence until proven guilty, we commend the President’s decision to suspend her, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“This step prevents any potential interference and upholds the integrity of the process. It is crucial that the legal process is followed diligently, and any individual found guilty of financial misconduct faces the full consequences of the law. “

He also called on EFCC to extend the fight against corruption to other MDAs, which are perceived to allow corruption to thrive unhindered. The AAN boss urged the president to demonstrate his commitment to anti-corruption by initiating forensic audits across the MDAs and ensuring systemic accountability.”

‘’ActionAid Nigeria takes a firm stance against corruption and any form of financial mismanagement. We are closely monitoring the ongoing investigation by the EFCC into the alleged money laundering activities within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

“If these allegations are proven true, it would be a severe violation of public trust and a betrayal of the very essence of humanitarian efforts. ActionAid advocates for transparency, accountability, and the strict adherence to financial regulations within governmental agencies to ensure that funds allocated for social welfare and poverty alleviation reach the intended beneficiaries.

“Now is the time for an effective implementation of a social register of beneficiaries of the programme with real-time updates as funds are disbursed. This measure ensures transparency and allows the public to monitor the allocation of resources effectively,” he added..

Tinubu’s action sends the right message —Ndume

To the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, the president’s ordering of the immediate suspension and probe of the embattled Minister were on the right track. This is even as he appealed to the President to take urgent measures to curtail the excesses of an emerging political cartel within his administration.

Ndume, who is currently in Saudi Arabia observing the lesser Hajj, said this at a briefing in Abuja yesterday.
The federal lawmaker, however, cautioned that the alleged fraud committed by the suspended minister might not be an isolated case.

He said: “What President Tinubu has done is very timely. The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is a welcome development. It will allow the relevant agencies to conduct a proper investigation.

“Some people in the same position that Tinubu is would not have acted. But as a leader, who is in charge, he acted swiftly and the Minister has been suspended. We should commend the President. This is something Nigerians should commend.

“But the President should not stop there. There is an emerging political cartel within the corridors of power. The President must act swiftly and dismantle the cartel.

“If they’re not stopped, they’ll be stronger and worse than the cabal. The President must not allow that to happen. I don’t think what the Minister did was an isolated case. I don’t think she acted alone.

“The President needs to look deep and flush out those involved in mismanaging the funds meant for humanitarian assistance. We’re hopeful that the President will take more decisive actions in the future.”

We can’t question Tinubu’s wisdom for suspending Betta Edu — Uzodimma

Also speaking, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, said President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Edu could not be questioned.

The governor stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

Asked to react to the minister’s suspension as chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Uzodimma said: “This is very clear. Whether as Progressive Governors Forum or as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question.

“What is more, if there are allegations and the President said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to. So I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media.”

Uzodimma said he was at the seat of government to inform the President of his inauguration for second term on January 15 in Owerri and to invite him to grace the occasion.

“I also used the opportunity to inform him of the successes we are recording in the management of security issues we have had over the years in the South-East, especially in Imo State.

“The President is very glad with the positive developments and also has assured me of his continued support towards the development of Imo State.”

I’m not signatory to company linked to Beta Edu — Interior Minister

Also yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has debunked reports that he is a signatory to the company involved in the contract allegations linked with the ministry of humanitarian affairs.

He said that he resigned from the company in 2019.

An online medium (not Vanguard) had reported that a company allegedly owned by Tunji-Ojo allegedly received N438 million as ‘consultancy fees’ from the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.

Reacting to the allegation in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said, “I am not a signatory to the company.”

The company, New Planet Project Limited, was one of the consultants awarded contracts worth N3 billion given out by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract.

The social register was created for cash transfers and other social investment programmes.

Recall that Edu had been in the news for asking the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to send public funds to a private account that belonged to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a project manager by the minister.

The minister had approved that N585,198,500.00 should be paid into a personal account. It approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for her team from Abuja to Kogi State, even though the latter has no airport.