Deji Adeyanju, a well-known human rights activist, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fire Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation if she is found guilty of money embezzlement.
Adeyanju added in a statement that Tinubu should oversee a transparent and unbiased probe into the matter.
After a memo surfaced in which she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585.2 million into a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the Ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups, Edu faced harsh criticism.
The minister said the payment followed due process, but the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein was of a contrary opinion.
Reacting, Adeyanju, the convener of Concerned Nigerians, commended the Accountant-General of the Federation for her steadfastness in refusing to grant the request by Edu.
He said: “This action by the Accountant-General is in line with Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009, which clearly states that personal money shall not be paid into a government bank account, nor should any public money be paid into a private account.
“I applaud the Accountant-General for her unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.
“Her refusal to comply with the improper and illegal request by the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs demonstrates her integrity and dedication to the rule of law. By adhering to the Financial Regulations, she has set a commendable example for other public officials to follow.
“In light of these developments, I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action against the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
“The request made by the Minister to transfer such a substantial amount into an individual’s private account is a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations. It raises serious concerns about the misuse of public funds and suggests a breach of trust by a high-ranking government official.
“Adeyanju urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a transparent and independent investigation into the matter and, if found guilty, to suspend the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs pending further disciplinary actions saying the senseless looting perpetrated by Betta Edu reason military truncated severally democratic governments in the country. The president should sack her and preserve our democracy.
“This step is crucial to maintaining public confidence in the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring the prudent management of public resources.”
