The alleged financial corruption crisis rocking the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is far from done, with a document revealing that the Minister, Edu Betta, allegedly disbursed N585,198,500.00 into a personal account.
According to a viral document signed by Edu and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Minister directed that N585,198,500.00 be paid to one Oniyelu Bridget.
The document also revealed that the N585.198 million award, intended for vulnerable populations in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, was transferred to Oniyelu’s account.
However, in response to the news, the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, stated that the N585.198 million payment for the disadvantaged group followed legal protocol.
He explained that the grant was paid to the account of an individual, Oniyelu Bridget, because the colleague is currently the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
He stated that the N585.198 million award was intended for vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said N585m was approved, and it is intended to implement grants to vulnerable groups in the states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos.”
“It is worth noting that GVG was first introduced in Kogi State, where recipients testified.” Cross River and Akwa Ibom were launched in December 2023. Kogi was introduced in November, and others will follow in the coming weeks.
“The general public is invited to take note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the Federal Government’s social intervention schemes, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.”
“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed” , he went on to say.
Meanwhile, the development sparked outrage on social media, with Nigerians wondering why a large quantity of money from the Federal Government would be deposited to one individual’s account.
According to the DAILY POST, public sector finance regulations from 2009 ban the payment of public cash to a private individual’s account.
According to Section 713 of the law, “no personal money shall be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.” An officer who transfers public funds to a private account is considered to have acted fraudulently.”
Remember that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, an agency under Edu, only four days ago for alleged financial fraud.
As a result, Halima Shehu was arrested and questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N44 billion scam.
Following an investigation, the EFCC froze N30 billion in funds transferred from NSIPA’s accounts.
Similarly, the EFCC summoned Sadiya Umar-Farouq, a former Minister of the Ministry, in connection with a financial scam allegedly perpetrated by one contractor, James Okwete.