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Betta Edu: The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Published

8 months ago

January 14, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Nigeria’s erstwhile youngest minister, Mrs Betta Edu, has been in the news for the better part of the year 2024 following her alleged involvement in the financial crime.

Today, Betta Edu, a former Commissioner for Health in Cross Rivers State is referred as former Minister in the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ministry, less than six months after she was appointed and approved for the position.

Betta Edu’s ascendancy to the top position of a member of the Nigerian Federal Executive Council (FEC), was heralded and greeted with euphoria. Many applauded President Bola Tinubu for showing genuine concern to the clamour to give the young the opportunity to showcase and prove their mettle in governance.

On appointed and portfolio allocated, Betta Edu was everywhere with the energy of the youth that she is, and was practically giving the administration of Tinubu a level of face-lift until disaster struck; she got herself enmeshed in financial misappropriation that got her fired from her position, and opened up can of worms and investigations that are changing the landscape of the nascent Tinubu administration.

Earlier in the year, Edu had declared that “integrity and accountability are our watchword. Under my watch, in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, no one will embezzle public funds as before.

“The plans to tarnish the image of this administration, my person or the ministry will amount to nothing”, but that was not to be as the minister, who is now suspended and under investigation, was caught in the web of financial impropriety.

Edu reportedly approved funds amounting to N3.16m for flight tickets and airport taxis for herself and her team to travel from Abuja to Kogi State, a state that does not have an airport.

The internal memo from the National Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups, Thalis Apalowo, indicated that seven members of the minister’s advanced team received N1.54m for flights and airport taxis, while the main team, including Edu, received N1.62m for the same purpose.

The leaked memo also disclosed that N3m was allocated for logistics, and the total disbursement for vulnerable groups was N60m.

Meanwhile, the minister’s predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, is also being investigated for alleged money laundering during her tenure. The total budget for the ministry from 2020 to 2024 is N2.38 trillion.

Edu’s bubble busted when on January 2, 2024, she reportedly suspended the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, for financial misconduct, and replaced almost immediately with Akindele Egbuwalo, the national N-Power programme manager, in acting capacity.

Shehu was specifically accused of diverting over N40 billion from the coffers of NSIPA.

It wasn’t long after that a memo wherein Betta Edu, asked Oluwatoyin Madein, accountant-general of the federation, to transfer N585 million to a private account, began making the rounds, and sparking outrage.

Mrs Edu has therefore, come under criticism from Nigerians for ordering the said transfer of N585.2 million into the private bank account of a civil servant, who is the accountant in charge of grants for Vulnerable Nigerians.

The leaked memo showed that the minister had in December, requested Oluwatoyin Madein, the accountant general of the federation, to transfer the money from the account of the National Social Investment Office to the private account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of a federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups, a project under Edu’s ministry.

The request contravenes various sections of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 meant to prevent fraud and other forms of corruption in government business.

Edu, however, through her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, insisted that the act is legal in the country’s civil service. She alleged that she was being targeted for her stance against corruption.

But, Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.”

It also added that “Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

The Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, has since distanced herself from the controversy adding that her agency had advised the ministry of the proper mode of such transfers.

Following public outcry, Tinubu waved the big stick and suspended the minister. Announcing the suspension, presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said the president took the action in line with his avowed commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

The president also tasked a panel led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.

Tinubu has also mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the scandal after which Edu was invited and grilled for hours on end before being released on bail with her passport and that of her predecessor seized.

As a fallout of the scandal, the Tinubu government has suspended all programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume said in a statement signed on his behalf by the Director Information, OSGF, Segun Imohiosen.

He said the suspension was further to the ongoing investigation of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and its programmes.

He stated that all the four programmes administered by NSIPA, including; N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme have been suspended for a period of six weeks in the first instance.

TheCable painted a scenario that explained the road to the scandal that rocked the Tinubu administration so soon after assumption of office. The paper wrote:

“Before Halima Shehu was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as CEO of NSIPA, Delu Yakubu, now senior special assistant to the president on humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, was picked for the position.

“But there were concerns among some senators and officials in the presidency that Yakubu would not be up to the task. She was then dropped and appointed a presidential aide.

“Thereafter, Tinubu secured the confirmation of Shehu as NSIPA CEO in October.

“An insider said Edu was looking to work with Yakubu because she was a lot more comfortable with her.

“The minister expected to work with Yakubu because she was comfortable with her but when Shehu found her way to the position somehow, Edu was not happy,” the source said.

“This did not create a harmonious working environment between both women from the outset.”

“Another wedge between the minister and Shehu had to do with money, the insider said.

“Typically, the minister is a signatory to the NSIPA account but she makes withdrawals without letting the NSIPA head know,” the source said.

“Shehu got angry over that and the only way she thought she could still retain control over her agency was to transfer the remaining balance out of the accounts that Edu had access to.

“She has disclosed to the EFCC the three accounts where she moved the money to.”

“Another insider said some staff in the office of the accountant-general of the federation (AGoF) were made signatories to these accounts, in a bid to ensure that the humanitarian ministry had access to funds when the need arose.”

Born Betta Chimaobim Edu on October 27, 1986, the suspended minister served as the national women leader of the All Progressive Congress. She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. She was also National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

In 2015, Edu became the youngest person at 28, to be appointed Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River State Benedict Ayade on Community and Primary Healthcare.

In 2020, she became chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce. In August that year, she was appointed National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

Edu is a Fellow of the Royal School of Public Health in and the African Institute of Public Health Professionals.

Betta Edu became the youngest national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2022.

In July 2023, she bagged the Award of Excellence in Leadership for gender inclusion and women empowerment, in recognition of her commitment to championing the cause of empowering women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

Stakeholders admit that she earned her appointment to the federal cabinet, given the level of experience that trails her. They also agree that she proved within the short period she served before the financial impropriety scandal that subsumed her reared its head.

While the case of Betta Edu is still undergoing investigation, it is believed that the outcome will determine the path youth and women appointment with take in future. It is also on record that most youth organizations, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have dissociated themselves from her.

Nigerians await with baited eyelids the eventual outcome after investigations have been concluded.

Featured

NLC Laments Fuel Price Hike, Says ‘We Feel Betrayed’

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

Eric

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has lamented the recent increase in the price of fuel, saying the President Bola Tinubu administration betrayed them.

The Congress made the revelation in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday, and made available to newsmen.

He wrote:

WE FEEL BETRAYED

We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of pms. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of pms would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.

We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old pms rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.

But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain.

It is both traumatic and nightmarish.

Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.

But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government. We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250% tariff hike, that it had been dealt with and there was no need to openly engage the Minister of Power who was at that meeting.

Instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.

The combined effects of government’s ferocious right -wing market policies brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests.

Rather than make amends, government arrested and hounded into detention some of those who took part and some of those who had nothing to do with these protests, charging them with criminal conspiracy, subversion, treasonable felony, terrorism financing and cyber crime with an intent to overthrow the government of President Tinubu.

The police and other security agencies have since been on rampage terrorising the citizenry in pursuance of government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissent.

In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals.

They have gone as far as appropriating the statutory roles of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in resolving trade dispute matters and issues considered outside the jurisdiction of the security agencies.

That the government is on rampage in the face of stifling conditions of living is an understatement but we promise Nigerians that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress will not be cowed into submission. Together with civil society, we brought about this democracy when some of the actors in power today were conspiring with the military on how to perpetuate their hold on political power.

When the State and the security forces picked on us in a hybrid war, we had our suspicions. We knew they were up to something sinister and needed to distract/divert our attention or possibly frighten or weaken us before they came out with it so that we would not have a robust response.

Now that they chickens have come to roost, we were right in our suspicions. However, we want to let Nigerians know that the clandestine/surreptitious increase in the pump price of pms is the first among the equally sinister policies government has up its sleeve.

On our part, we stand resolute with the people and will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security agencies.

We insist that government cannot criminalise protests or basic rights in the domain of the citizenry.

Accordingly, we demand the immediate:
1). Reversal of the latest increase in the pump of pms across the country;

2). Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests;

3). Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges;

4). Reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity;

5). Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment;

6). End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity;

7). Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.

We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people.

In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.

Featured

Falana Condemns Treason Charges Against #EndBadGovernance Protesters

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2024

Eric

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has criticized the rising use of treason charges against protesters in Nigeria.

Falana, who spoke at a two-day international conference on anti-corruption and climate change in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned these charges.

On Monday, the Federal government charged 10 leaders and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which occurred from August 1 to 10, 2024. The protesters appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing treason charges among other allegations.

The defendants; Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, pleaded not guilty to the six-count indictment filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

The charges outlined in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 include treason, attempts to destabilize the country, intimidation of the President, and the destruction of government property in Kano.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which drew significant attention in August, were part of a broader movement demanding greater accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s governance.

Falana expressed grave concerns about what he termed the “tribalisation” of treason, questioning the logic behind charging citizens with such a serious offense simply for protesting.

“I have been under pressure in the last 24 hours from Nigeria and abroad. People are wondering why the charge of treason is being tribalised in our country. How can you say that because people protested, they are being charged with treason?” Falana asked.

Assuring the public that there is no reason for alarm, Falana revealed that he has taken up the case and plans to advise President Bola Tinubu to instruct the police to withdraw the charges.

“All those who have expressed concern, do not be bothered; there is no cause for alarm. We are taking up the case, and we are going to advise the government, particularly the President, to direct the police to withdraw the charge. And that advice is also in the interest of the government because a treason charge is not like a charge of stealing,” Falana said.

He highlighted his experience defending treason cases, noting that this would be his fifth such case. “In the four previous cases, the government was compelled to withdraw the charges because we turned the case into the trial of the government,” Falana added.

He warned that misuse of treason charges could have negative repercussions for the government, citing past experiences as evidence.

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PDP Govs Call Wike’s Bluff, Says Threat Irresponsible, Reiterates Support for Fubara

Published

5 days ago

September 3, 2024

Eric

The governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have slammed former Rivers State Governor, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and labelled his threats as unbridled and irresponsible.

On August 24, the PDP Governors’ Forum expressed support for Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and called on the party’s NWC to grant him his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state.

In response, Wike announced over the weekend at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt that he would take firm action against PDP-controlled states that threatened his political structure in the state.

He stated “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody.

“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”

Meanwhile, the forum, in a statement by its Director General, Emmanuel Agbo on Tuesday, labelled Wike’s threat as completely unacceptable.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) under the chairmanship of H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkarim Mohamed (CON) and Governor of Bauchi State and all the member-Governors has been drawn to a widely circulating news story in which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Barrister Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, made scathing and threatening comments regarding member-Governors of the Forum and notes the significant concerns that have been raised in the public space regarding the unity and peaceful coexistence within our party.

“The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP controlled States are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor.”

The forum emphasized its commitment to a “touch one, touch all” approach, pledging to support one another both individually and collectively, regardless of the circumstances.

It continued “A tradition Wike tremendously enjoyed in his days of travail as governor. Thus, we, therefore, maintain that our position on the affairs of the PDP in Rivers State, as unanimously resolved at our 2024, 3rd, and 4th Meetings held in Enugu and Taraba States respectively are not subject to review by any individual no matter how highly placed.

“We wish to emphasise that neither is the position of the Forum personal nor does it by any stretch of the imagination undermine the relevance of any stakeholder in the party. Rather, as loyal party faithful, members of the Forum remain committed to that pristine practice that was intended to guarantee order, eliminate conflicting centres of loyalty epitomised by the situation in Rivers State, and guard against distracting the Governor in the prosecution of his mandate. Wike benefitted wholly from that arrangement.

“We are irrevocably committed to working with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the PDP, in ensuring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is conferred with all the privileges he is entitled to as a Governor elected on the platform of our party, both at the state and national levels.”

The governors affirmed that their unwavering commitment to party unity is of utmost importance.

They highlighted that the PDP has always prioritised unity and collective advancement.

The PDP Governors’ Forum stated that their recent actions, including backing Fubara, demonstrate their dedication to these principles.

The Punch