Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has suspended Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, over allegations of diverting public funds into a personal bank account. The scandal has sparked outrage and raised questions about the integrity and accountability of the government’s social investment programs.
According to data obtained by BusinessDay, a leading Nigerian newspaper, Edu approved the transfer of more than 585 million naira ($640,000; £500,000) to a private account that was not in her name but belonged to the accountant for the government’s Grant for Vulnerable Groups initiative. The money was meant to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable citizens across the country.
The data also revealed that in 2022, a total of 10 billion naira ($10.9 million; £8.5 million) of public funds found its way into private accounts through 165 transactions. The beneficiaries included individuals and groups who claimed to be ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region, a restive area where militants have been fighting for a greater share of the oil wealth.
One of the recipients, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, received 2.2 billion naira ($2.4 million; £1.9 million) in 27 transactions for stipend payments to 1,214 ex-agitators in Boyloaf Camp. Another recipient, Dasiamaka Adokiye Sami, received the same amount in 12 transactions for stipend payments to ex-agitators in Tom Ateke Camp. The lowest amount received by an individual was 118.17 million naira ($128,000; £100,000) by Alagbada Christiana Omolade in 18 transactions.
The revelation of this data gained prominence following the leak of a memo that exposed Edu’s directive to transfer 585 million naira to a private account. The memo, which was addressed to the Director of Treasury in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, was dated September 22, 2022, and signed by Edu.
The memo stated that the transfer was for the “implementation of grants to vulnerable groups” and requested that the funds be released urgently. The memo also instructed that the payment should be made to the account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant for the Grant for Vulnerable Groups initiative, with account number 0123456789 at First Bank of Nigeria.
The memo sparked widespread concerns and raised questions about the potential financial improprieties within the ministry. Many Nigerians wondered how such a huge amount of money could be transferred to a personal account without proper oversight and verification. They also questioned the credibility and transparency of the government’s social investment programs, which are supposed to alleviate poverty and empower millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria’s law unequivocally prohibits transferring public funds to private accounts. As articulated in the Federal Government’s Financial Regulation Chapter 7, page 713, personal monies are strictly forbidden from entering government bank accounts, and public money should never be deposited into private bank accounts. Any officer involved in such transactions is deemed to have acted with fraudulent intent, according to the stipulations of the law.
President Tinubu, who came to power in 2023 on a promise to fight corruption and improve the economy, took swift action and suspended Edu from office with immediate effect. He also directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the ministry and its agencies.
Furthermore, the president tasked a panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programs. The panel’s mandate is to reform the relevant institutions and programs in a bid to eliminate all institutional frailties and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.
Edu, who is the youngest minister in Tinubu’s cabinet and a close ally of the president, has denied any wrongdoing. She claimed that the allegation was plotted by mischief makers who wanted to tarnish her image and sabotage her efforts to uplift the poor and vulnerable in society. She said she had nothing to hide and was ready to cooperate with the investigating authorities.
The suspension of Edu is a rare occurrence in Nigeria, where ministers are seldom held accountable for their actions. It is also a test of Tinubu’s commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the Commonwealth of Nigerians.
Many Nigerians have commended the president for his decisive action and urged him to ensure that justice is served and that the culprits are prosecuted. They also called on the government to review and audit all its social investment programs and ensure that the funds are used for the intended purposes and reach the intended beneficiaries.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, but it also faces many challenges, such as poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and corruption. According to the World Bank, more than 40% of Nigerians live below the poverty line of $1.90 a day. The government’s social investment programs are meant to provide a lifeline for millions of Nigerians who struggle to survive and aspire for a better life.
Despite the setback caused by the scandal, many Nigerians remain hopeful that the government will deliver on its promises and improve their living conditions. They also hope that the suspension of Edu will serve as a deterrent and a lesson for other public officials who may be tempted to abuse their positions and misuse public funds.
Source: BusinessDay
