Betta Edu under pressure to resign

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has called for the resignation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, citing a “betrayal of confidence” in a statement on Sunday.

Falana urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the ongoing investigation into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and advocated for swift legal action against all individuals implicated in the alleged financial misconduct.

The senior lawyer criticized the “extremely embarrassing drama” surrounding Edu’s alleged involvement in approving N585,198,500.00 for disbursement into a personal account. According to an alleged letter signed by Edu, the funds were directed to the account of Oniyelu Bridget as a grant for vulnerable groups in four states.

However, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, clarified that her office did not act on the payment request.

Edu countered the allegations, claiming a plot to tarnish her image and asserting her commitment to avoiding embezzlement of government funds.

Falana dismissed Edu’s denial, stating that she failed to address the approval for funds to be paid into a private account instead of directly transferring them to the beneficiaries’ accounts from the ministry.

Falana said, “There can be no legal justification for the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people.”

Falana called on Edu to resign, accusing her of violating public service rules and applicable laws, and urged the EFCC to ensure a thorough investigation with subsequent legal actions.