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President Bola Tinubu has taken swift action by suspending Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, following emerging corruption allegations within her ministry. The decision to suspend Edu comes as part of President Tinubu's commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in managing the nation's resources.
In a statement issued on Monday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, the suspension is in response to recent media reports highlighting alleged corruption issues in the ministry. President Tinubu had directed a thorough investigation on Sunday to verify the accuracy of the allegations against the minister.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized the government's determination to unravel the truth, assuring Nigerians that appropriate action would be taken to address any breaches and infractions identified during the investigation.
Dr Edu, accused of requesting the transfer of N585.2 million to a private account, dismissed the allegations on her social media, describing them as baseless attempts to undermine her ministry's anti-corruption efforts. The government urges patience as the investigation unfolds, with a commitment to transparency in communicating the findings to the public.
Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, refutes allegations that she requested the Accountant-General of the Federation, Olwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585.2 million to a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget, purportedly a Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Group.
Responding to the accusations on her social media platform, Dr Edu dismisses the claims as baseless and perceives them as an attempt to undermine the ministry's anti-corruption initiatives. She states, "It is an attempt by mischief makers to undermine my ministry’s efforts in fighting corruption and uplift those in need." The denial comes amid heightened scrutiny and an ongoing investigation into the alleged financial transaction, emphasizing the minister's commitment to transparency and anti-corruption efforts within her ministry.
