The Transparency Network has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude its investigations into allegations that rocked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in early 2024, leading to the exit of Dr Betta Edu as minister and other senior officials of the government.
The group, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the suspense in the investigations nearly two years after the alleged scandal has left a cloud of suspicion over many other career civil servants and politicians, who, it claimed, suffered collateral damage on account of the alleged scandal.
Among those mentioned was the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Social Investment Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, and others who were suspended to allow thorough investigations of the saga.
In the statement issued by the Coordinator of the group, Imman Onyi, affirmed that the dithering procrastination on the part of the EFCC in coming out with its report meant that the cloud of suspicion put on Shehu and other staff of the agency has yet to clear.
“It’s unfortunate that nearly two years after this saga came to light, the result of the investigations has yet to be made public. We do not believe that the EFCC, with its capacity and the evidence available to it during the investigation, has not concluded on the culpability of the real perpetrators.
The group said: “The continuing delay puts a cloud on many individuals who were initially fingered but who have not been formally exonerated following the investigations. This does not give confidence to the anti-corruption fight of the government, and it is on this basis that we call on the EFCC to immediately bring the report of its investigations to light so that the country can get a bearing on those who were directly responsible for the alleged scandal.
“We are particularly conscious of the former executive secretary of the NSIPA, Halima Shehu, and her subordinates, whose cases have remained hanging in the face of the dithering procrastination of the EFCC in presenting its report on the alleged scandal.”
