EXPOSING THE DRIVERS OF FINANCIAL CRIME:THE BETTA EDU SAGA

     The ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty Alleviation under Betta Edu’s in November 2023 approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for the ministers though the latter has no airport.

Nigerian’s suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty Alleviation,Dr Betta Edu,has been in the eye of the storm since her appointment in August,2023.The 37-year old politician who served as the National Women leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is now facing allegation of fraud,corruption and abuse of power in her ministry.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,on Monday suspended Dr Betta Edu from the office and ordered a thorough investigation into her indictment in the alleged transfer of N585.189m meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom,Cross river,Ogun and Lagos states into a private account. Before then,Daily Trust,in September,2023,revealed how the minister made controversial appointments into non-existent entities and defunct World Bank-supported projects.As well as an independent agency. 

A leaked memo dated December 20,2023,exposed a multimillionaire scandal involving Dr Edu.She allegedly approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for her advanced team to travel for an event in Kogi;a state with no airport.In the memo,each member of the embattled ministers advanced team received N200,000 for flight tickets and 20,000 for N72.3m Dr Edu allegedly earmarked N300,000 for her flight tickets.

Dr Betta Edu’s reputation took another beating within the ministry when sources said she faced allegations over appointments of person’s who were neither government employees nor consultants engaged through a non-transparent hiring process.A source within the ministry explained to Daily Trust that”The minister brought in friends,most of them were her medical colleagues,to take over government  establishments under her watch so could claim total control”. 

Another source claimed that”Most of the Appointees moved forward by Dr Edu did not pass through the standard process of hiring or appointments,neither were they interviewed or their qualifications receiving a hiring panel,nor was there a terms of reference because the powered handed by ministerial fiat”.

The most recent and damning scandal that led to Dr Edu’s suspension is the alleged diversion of N585.2m from the national social investment programme.A viral document signed by Dr Edu to the office of the Acvountant General of the Federation revealed that the minister directed the lodgement of N585.189m into the private account of one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu.

In December,2023,Dr edu was struck by yet another controversy over failure to settle nine months  stipends of some beneficiaries of the N-Power,another flagship programme of NSIPA.The N-power programme was described to provide skills training,employment and empowerment to young Nigerians,especially graduates,who are unemployed or underemployed.Some beneficiaries of the programmes planned a protest,accusing Dr Edu’s ministry of delaying their stipends,terminating their contracts without due process and failing to provide them with exit packages or transition plans.The protesters also alleged that Edu’s ministry had politicised the programme and favoured some beneficiaries over others based on their party affiliation or loyalty.

Shaibu Jamilat Omeneke is a student of mass communication department,Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU),Kogi State.

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