Adeniyi Adedeji
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the probe of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu over alleged transfer of N585 million to a private account.
TheHintsNews reports that Edu has been in the eye of the storm since last Friday after a memo surfaced where she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement issued Sunday said acknowledged the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
He said the government was aware of the narratives circulating widely and wished to assure Nigerians that it takes the issues most seriously.
Idris added: “The federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilised effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.
“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.”
“We urge Nigerians to exercise patience as the investigation unfolds. The government is focused on ensuring a fair and unbiased process, and the findings will be communicated duly and transparently to the public.”
Idris noted that the public is advised to note, against the backdrop of various unverified narratives circulating on the internet his ministry is the primary source for verified information about events and actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria.