The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to its headquarters in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The invitation was issued less than 30 minutes after President Bola Tinubu confirmed Edu’s immediate suspension from office, Ajuri Ngelale, President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity announced.
An EFCC operative confirmed the incident to reporters, saying the anti-graft agency had already recommended the minister’s immediate suspension to allow for the ongoing probe ordered by the president.
According to the source, the commission acted quickly after the President ordered a thorough inquiry into the alleged payment of N585.189 million in grants intended for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states into a private account.
“Our investigation into the alleged payment won’t be thorough if we don’t recommend the minister’s suspension. Her suspension will give us the liberty to do our job thoroughly as directed by the President.
“An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her. We expect her to honor the invitation and give proper insight into the issue at hand. So, we expect her to arrive here anytime soon,” the EFCC official said.
At the time of filing this report, the spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comment.
Civil society organizations, activists, attorneys, and opposition political parties demanded Edu’s dismissal just as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, informed the reporters on Saturday that the subject was being investigated.
