By Henry Uche, Lagos
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) expresses surprise at the audacity of suspended Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, to have ordered the payment of public fund into private account of a public servant and the consent of the officer to this conspiracy and breach of financial regulations of the country.
HEDA agreed with President Bola Tinubu on the decisive action in suspending all Social Investment Programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency.
Deeming this decision the right step in the fight against corruption. HEDA, in an official statement endorsed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, charged President Tinubu to extend his bold move to review and investigation of Federal MDAs and their account persons. This will underscore the importance of his commitment towards combating corruption.
Additionally, the anti-corruption group sees the decision as a supportive measure for the existing investigations into alleged malfeasance within Ministries, Department and Agency across the country.
The National Social Investment Programme Agency has been under scrutiny since the suspension of its Chief Executive Officer, Halima Shehu. The focus of the investigation is the reported laundering of N37.1bn within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Poverty Alleviation under the former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq.
Suraju adds, “President Tinubu’s suspension of Farouq’s successor, Betta Edu, who is now being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, adds another layer to the ongoing probe.”
Edu, the suspended Minister, is alleged to have directed the transfer of N585 million to a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget, identified as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
“As a Civil Society organization, HEDA Resource Centre calls upon the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to beam its search light on Permanent Secretaries and Project Accountants and investigate their culpability and involvements in the mismanagement and diversion of public funds.
The statement further asserts, “Nigerians need to be informed about the allegation that the Edu-led ministry awarded a consultancy contract worth N438 million to New Plant Projects Limited, a company linked to the Interior Minister, for the National Social Registered.”