President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a “thorough and comprehensive” investigation into the financial scandal rocking the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu.
Recall that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation received a document signed by Edu that went viral and contained orders from the Minister to pay N585,198,500.00 to a person by the name of Oniyelu Bridget.
The N585.198 million donation, which was intended for vulnerable populations in the states of Lagos, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, was reportedly also included in the document and transferred into Oniyelu’s account.
The Minister, however, insisted that the claims regarding her improper use of public monies are an attempt to damage her reputation and denied any wrongdoing.
There have been several calls for accountability and broad concern since this discovery.
President Tinubu is concerned about the controversy, according to a statement made in response to it on Sunday night by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The Minister stated that the President ordered the probe to be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
He said the present administration is determined to unravel the truth, assuring that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished.
The statement reads: “The Ministry of Information and National Orientation acknowledges the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and wish to assure Nigerians that the Government takes these issues most seriously.
“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.
“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.
“The public is advised to note, against the backdrop of various unverified narratives circulating on the Internet, that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under the leadership of Minister Mohammed Idris, is the primary source for verified information about events and actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Only accurate details will be shared with the public. The Ministry is committed to providing timely updates to keep Nigerians informed about the progress of the investigation.
