Daniel Bwala, former aide to the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, over fraud allegation.
Bwala gave this commendation on X, formerly Twitter handle on Monday in reaction to the suspension.
He wrote, “Again @officialABAT is showing that when there is a credible substance in an allegation he will act in public interest. He has suspended the beauty pageant minister. Give it to him.”
Reports revealed that about N585.189 million meant for the vulnerable persons in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states was reportedly diverted into a private account by the ministry.
In a document signed by Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister directed the disbursement of N585.189 million into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private accounts.
Reacting to this fraud allegation and to aid the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Tinubu had suspended Dr Betta Edu, with immediate effect.
Edu’s suspension was announced on Monday in statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
He said the suspension was in line with Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.
The statement said the President further directed the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to carry out a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
“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 Coordinating Minister of the Economy and 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”, the statement added.
“These directives of the President take immediate effect.”
