N585m Scandal: Betta Edu In EFCC Custody
Betta Edu, suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is currently in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended her on Monday, the anti-graft agency summoned Edu to its headquarters in Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
An operative of the EFCC had told Daily Trust that the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the suspension of the Minister in order to pave way for the ongoing investigation that had been ordered by the President.
Edu is expected to be grilled over alleged N585 million fraud in her ministry.
The Presidency had withdrawn the pass of the suspended Minister, thereby denying her access to the Aso Villa in Abuja.
“The pass of the suspended minister to Aso Villa has been collected,” a reliable source in the Presidency told Daily Trust.
“That means she can no longer access the Villa until further directive,” the source added.
In a video seen by Daily Trust, Edu’s vehicle was seen leaving the State House in a black SUV after she was denied access to the president.
A viral document signed by the Minister and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation showed that she ordered the payment of N585,189,500.00 into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
The leaked document showed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
The minister’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair, had in a statement on Friday said the payment followed due process.
Edu had also, in a statement she posted on her Facebook page on Saturday, said the allegation was baseless.
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday said Tinubu had directed a thorough investigation into the matter, adding that any breaches would be decisively punished.
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