Weeks after the financial improprieties that indicted the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, was uncovered, nothing has been head about her or the investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Edu, one of Nigeria’s youngest ministers was alleged to have engaged in financial impropriety within her ministry.
The suspension, announced on January 8, was prompted by public outcry over two controversial memos and a consultancy contract linked to Edu’s ministry.
One memo revealed an appropriation of N72,374,500 for air travel to Kogi State—a state without an airport—for the minister’s “advance team”.
Another document requested the transfer of N585 million to the private account of a government official, further intensifying scrutiny on Edu’s financial dealings.
Additionally, the discovery of a N438 million consultancy contract awarded to New Planet Project Limited, a company founded by the Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo, complicated matters.
Despite Tunji-Ojo’s assertion of having resigned from the company in 2019, his continued shareholding raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, prompting the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to invite him for questioning.
In response to the escalating controversy, President Tinubu tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with delving into the financial transactions of Edu’s ministry.
A panel led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun was also established to conduct a diagnostic on the financial architecture of the social investment programmes overseen by Edu’s ministry, with the aim of initiating comprehensive reforms.
The country still looks forward to an update on the scandal.
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