The Presidency says the dismissal of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, by President Bola Tinubu from his cabinet is probably based on findings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Edu, 37, was suspended in January 2024 over the alleged diversion of more than N585 million in public funds into a personal bank account.
She was also implicated in the release of N3 billion to verify the National Social Register under the former administration of Muhammadu Buhari, following public outrage over the scandal.
Speaking on Channels TV Sunday Politics, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, insisted that Edu has been dismissed, even though there was no official announcement that she has been sacked.
He said, “Betta (Edu) is gone. She was suspended in January and this is October. She is gone. Her position has been taken over by somebody else.
“As far as this government is concerned, there is no place for her in that cabinet. The EFCC has not shared whatever they have but if you go by what the President has done, it shows that maybe the EFCC has submitted something that actually justified that suspension. If you go by what the President has done, it means the EFCC has said something, has revealed something that formed the basis for the President’s action.”
Similarly, last Wednesday, another presidential aide, Tope Ajayi, told SaharaReporters in a phone interview: “Since the President did not bring her back, it is as clear as it is.
“If she’s not coming back to the cabinet, it means she’s not part of it, especially if you didn’t see her name in the reshuffled cabinet yesterday.”
“The President has the power to hire and fire, to appoint and reappoint whoever he wants to reappoint. If her name is not there, that means she’s not there. I don’t think there is anything to argue about,” he added.
In January, SaharaReporters reported that a memo from the Chief of the Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that President Tinubu had given approval to Edu, for the release of N3 billion to verify the National Social Register under the former administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
The social register had been created for cash transfers and other social investment programmes.
The letter from the office of Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, is dated September 18 and is titled “CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL; RE: APPEAL TO USE N3,000,000,000.00 (THREE BILLION NAIRA) FROM THE COVID-19 PALLIATIVE FUND FOR VERIFICATION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL REGISTER.”
“The above subject refers. 2. Please be informed that Mr President has approved the expenditure of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) only, from the Covid-19 Palliative Fund for verification of the National Social Register. 3. Please accept the assurance of my highest regards. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President,” it read.
SaharaReporters had reported how a company owned by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo was paid a total amount of N438.1 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under Betta Edu for consultancy services from the contract.
The company, New Planet Project Limited was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from N3 billion given out by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract.
Edu’s ministry approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for her team to travel from Abuja to Kogi State, even though the latter has no airport.
President Tinubu had suspended Edu and ordered an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of the minister.
Saharareporters
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