Tinubu suspends minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation over money laundering

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has suspended Nigeria's minister for humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation Dr Betta Edu with immediate effect after she was named in a money laundering case involving the transfer of public funds into a private account.

Over the last week, Dr Edu has come under investigation as part of a probe into a financial irregularity involving the transfer of N585.189m ($640,000) into a private account by the minister. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said appropriate action would be taken after the investigation into the natter has been concluded.

Apparently, the money was meant for the vulnerable persons in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states but was subsequently diverted into a private account. In a document signed by Dr Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister directed the disbursement of the money into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.

A statement from the presidency, it was revealed that the suspension was 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. Also, the statement said the president further directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“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 that is headed by the 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. These directives of the President take immediate effect,” the statement added.