Suspended Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu gets bail, to report daily at EFCC headquarters

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, on bail.

Edu’s travel passport and those of her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farooq were seized by EFCC on Wednesday to prevent the duo from fleeing the country in the middle of investigations. 

 

According to sources in the EFCC, Edu was allowed to leave on bail but would be showing up daily, just like Sadiya who was released on Tuesday but continued to report  to the EFCC office pending the conclusion of investigation on the case. 

 

Edu is being investigated over the N585 million she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant  for the grants scheme to vulnerable groups.  

A letter from the minister with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208 to the Accountant General of the Federation dated  December 20, 2023, asked that over N585 million should be sent to a private account.

 

The letter signed by the minister, Dr Edu, is titled ‘Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States Respectively’.

 

It read, “I hereby approve the payment of the cumulative sum of five hundred and eighty-five million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand, five hundred naira (N585,189,500.00). These are payments for programmes and activities of the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups.”

 

The details show that N219,429,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom State; N73,828,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Cross River State; N219,462,250.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Lagos State while N72,468,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Ogun State.

 

The letter said the payment of N585,189,500.00 –the total sum – should be made to a UBA account: 2003682151 belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

 

“This payment should be made from the National Social Investment Officer account with account number: 0020208461037 to the Project Accountant’s details listed above,” it added.