There are indications the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu may have been cleared of the allegation of diversion of more than N585 million or $640,000 of public money into a personal bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Although the details are still sketchy, multiple sources close to the party confided in InsideBusinessNG that she had been cleared of the allegation by the anti-graft commission. They however doubted her reinstatement as the minister at the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ministry.
“EFCC has cleared her, but I doubt if she will be reinstated to her position in the ministry”, stated a source who noted that Betta Edu’s political career may be set for a U-turn.
“She may be appointed a DG to head an agency”, according to another source who hopes she won’t slide again.
Spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale told InsideBusinessNG that he can’t say much as the investigation is still ongoing.
“I don’t have any information about that, we are investigating her. The investigation is still on, and that’s all”.
The Media aide to the Minister, Rasheed Zubair however in a WhatsApp message in response to the media enquiry by InsideBusinessNG gave a glimmer of hope for Betta Edu.
Asked if Edu has been cleared by EFCC and when precisely she will be resuming office, Rasheed simply said: “Waiting for official pronouncement. Thanks”
The unfolding situation, according to sources at the Presidency, brightens the hope of a renewed political future for the APC women’s leader whose career has been tainted by the allegation of financial impropriety which sparked public outrage in the country.
The new development may also turn the tide for the suspended minister whose influence in the ruling party was waning following her suspension in January by President Bola Tinubu over the allegations that hinged on the financial recklessness of political appointees in the country.
A leaked memo from Betta Edu, instructing the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to pay N585m into the private bank account of a project accountant in her ministry, Bridget Oniyelu, an action in violation of Nigerian civil service extant rule sparked public outrage for her suspension.
The ‘scandalous’ revelation raised questions about accountability in public office and President Tinubu, in an attempt to prove the zero tolerance of his administration for corruption, suspended the minister and ordered the EFCC to launch a thorough probe into the allegations against her.
InsideBusinessNG recalls she appeared before the Anti-graft agency and was subsequently released on bail after hours of grilling. Investigations have since then continued into the revelations.
The news of a possible reprieve for the Minister has elicited mixed reactions amongst Nigerians with supporters arguing that it reflects a fair and impartial approach to investigations, emphasizing the need for evidence-based conclusions. However, critics express concern over perceived leniency and the impact on accountability standards in public office.
One of her major earlier critics @KawuGarba in a recent post on X, made a dramatic U-turn claiming Edu did nothing wrong: “With the evidence showing Betta Edu got the approval of the N3 billion for national register verification, her suspension is unjust and should be reversed. She didn’t do anything wrong by doing what she got approval from the presidency for.”
Another group, Middle Belt Coalition in a statement said her suspension over the transfer of funds to a private account of a civil servant should not overshadow her remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to eradicating poverty and addressing humanitarian crises in Nigeria.
Also, the House of Representatives after its deliberation at a plenary raised concerns about putting the humanitarian programs on hold at such a time when the nation is groaning from increasing hunger and inflation.
The lawmakers also expressed dissatisfaction over the recommendation to add the management of the social investment programme to the responsibilities of the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun, and therefore urged the Anti-graft agency and federal government to expedite the investigations.
Speaking on the development, the National Chairman, of Victory Advocates of Nigeria (VAN), Prince Seyi Ajibola told InsideBusinessNG that although Betta Edu meant well with her action, she failed to follow due process, adding that her reinstatement would leave the Tinubu-led administration with so many questions to answer from Nigerians.
“The steps she has taken so far have berated her position as an honourable minister, she should know better. When you are given a role, the first thing you have to do is to check and review the policy goal of the organization and when you fail in achieving this, you would be held accountable for anything that happens in such a ministry”.
“Even though she was trying to please the masses, that doesn’t stop her from following due process. People queried her action because she didn’t follow due process and we are saying that she should be accountable for money under her watch”.
“Reinstating her will dent the image of President Tinubu because there is no sense of integrity in such an arrangement. What’s the outcome of the EFCC investigation? Has she been declared not guilty by any court of law? If she’s not guilty, how?
“Betta Edu can’t just be allowed to resume without answering some of these questions from Nigerians” Ajibola noted.
An APC Chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity said he doubted the possibility of Betta’s reinstatement as it’s obvious she’s guilty as charged.
(Inside Business Online)
