The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken custody of the travel documents belonging to the suspended Minister Betta Edu and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq. Both ministers are currently under investigation for alleged financial misconduct during their respective tenures at the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
In a parallel case, Halima Shehu, the former National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA), has also had her passport seized by the EFCC. She is facing probes related to the alleged embezzlement of N44.8 billion, of which the EFCC claims to have recovered N39.8 billion.
Betta Edu underwent a grueling 10-hour interrogation session at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday. The 37-year-old minister faced questioning regarding an alleged N585 million disbursement fraud. Although released on bail, she has been instructed to report daily to the EFCC office.
Edu, Shehu, and Umar-Farouq are scheduled for further questioning at the EFCC’s office on Wednesday, starting from 11 am. Edu’s appearance follows her suspension by President Bola Tinubu, triggered by her involvement in the N585 million disbursement scandal, which drew criticism from rights groups and activists.
The situation worsened for Edu when the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, confirmed that her office did not act on the humanitarian ministry’s request for certain payments. Consequently, President Tinubu promptly suspended Edu, making her the first member removed from the 48-man cabinet inaugurated in August.
In response to the unfolding events, President Tinubu directed EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial transactions involving the ministry and its associated agencies. Edu, known as the youngest member of the President’s cabinet before her suspension, had rapidly risen through the political ranks, holding state and national offices at a young age.
