Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation in Nigeria, is in the spotlight over allegations of corruption.
Edu is being accused of embezzling public funds meant to be distributed to millions of poor Nigerians suffering the untold hardship of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) economic policies.
The Minister’s antics were exposed after a memo, signed by her, directing Nigeria’s accountant general Oluwatoyin Madein to wire a payment of N585,189,500 (US$661,933) to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola was leaked to the public last week.
According to the memo, the money is for “vulnerable groups” in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo States as part of the government’s effort to alleviate poverty in the country. But investigators suspect foul play, with many questioning her integrity after being appointed to head the critical ministry only six months ago.
Edu refuted the allegation in a Facebook post on Saturday, saying it was “baseless and an attempt to undermine the efforts we are making to fight corruption and uplift those in need.” President Tinubu on Monday sacked her and ordered an investigation into all financial transactions in the ministry.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
