How Betta Edu was denied access to meet President Tinubu after N585m scandal

On Monday, January 8, President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, following an alleged N585 million fraud within the ministry.

In a video shared on TVC’s official X page, the suspended minister was seen departing the Villa after being unable to meet with President Tinubu hours after being suspended.

Edu’s problem began after she signed a document requesting that cash be sent to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola’s personal account. The document was delivered to the Federation’s Accountant-General’s Office.

Reacting to the news, the president’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, who was interviewed by the media, stated that the decision was made to enable for transparency and accountability regarding Tinubu’s directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ngelale said:

“It was in the wisdom of the president to inaugurate an investigative panel that will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation of the financial framework of the social investment programme to ensure that we put in place fireworks that will really enhance the integrity of those programmes and ensure that the participants of the population of our country that are intended to benefit from those programmes are the exclusive beneficiaries of those programmes.”