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Betta Edu: The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Published

2 years 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

ADC: Momodu Questions INEC’s Neutrality, Warns Against Selective Justice

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2026

Eric

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Basorun Dele Momodu, has raised fresh concerns over the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that its handling of internal party disputes could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

He made the remarks on Thursday, during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The discussion centred on the recently concluded ADC convention and INEC’s position on factional leadership within the party. Momodu argued that electoral institutions must be careful not to be seen as politically biased.

The Media mogul maintained that the ADC’s decision to proceed with its convention was not an act of defiance but of constitutional and organisational survival.

According to him, political parties have the right to manage their internal affairs without undue interference.

He stressed that INEC’s primary responsibility is to act as an impartial referee in elections rather than become involved in internal party conflicts. He warned that any perception of bias could weaken trust in democratic institutions.

“Well, it is not really the business of INEC to intervene and interfere in the affairs of a party. Their role is to be the unbiased umpire, conduct elections and make sure that the elections are fair and square.

“But this INEC, this particular INEC, has started very early to show signs that we may not be able to trust them”

Momodu expressed concern that opposition parties are often subjected to faster and stricter scrutiny compared to ruling parties.

He suggested that this perceived imbalance could deepen political tension in the country. He also cautioned that democratic institutions must not only act fairly but must also be seen to act fairly. For him, perception is as important as legality in sustaining public confidence.

“Because of the hurry with which they deal a blow to opposition parties, I don’t see them doing that to APC. The speed at which they aligned quickly with the weaker faction of, you know, PDP was clear to me that we will be heading for the rocks again, as we have done in the past.

“I remember Amupitan when he was appointed; he pledged to be one of the best. But from what I’m seeing, his name is already being rubbished in the mud, which is unfortunate for a man at that commanding height of his life.

Culled from Daily Telegraph

Featured

Man Rescued Amid Attempt to Jump into Lagos Lagoon

Published

4 days ago

April 16, 2026

Eric

A man whose identity had not been established at the time of filing this report was rescued after reportedly attempting to jump into the Lagos Lagoon from a bridge.

Eyewitnesses said the individual parked his vehicle on the bridge before entering the water, prompting alarm among passersby.

The situation was, however, swiftly brought under control as local fishermen in the area intervened and pulled him out of the lagoon, preventing what could have resulted in a fatal outcome.

A video capturing the rescue surfaced on social media on Wednesday, shared by Isaac Fayose, who expressed concern over the incident and called on Nigerians to pay closer attention to the well-being of those around them.

“Please, check on your family and friends. This just happened today. Who knows what went wrong,” he wrote.

As of the time of this report, the circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear, while authorities have yet to provide an official account.

The Lagos State Police Command had also not issued any confirmation of the incident.

Featured

Dele Momodu Proposes Atiku/Obi Ticket As ‘Best Bet’ to Unseat Tinubu in 2027

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2026

Eric

Veteran journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Dele Momodu, has declared that a joint presidential ticket between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi represents the strongest strategy for the opposition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Momodu said the emerging ADC coalition is gaining momentum as a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he accused of promoting “one-man rule” and weakening democratic institutions.

Momodu argued that an Atiku–Obi ticket offers both experience and electoral appeal, noting that both politicians already command significant national followings from previous elections. He recalled their collaboration in 2019, adding that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election provides a ready base of supporters that can be consolidated.

According to him, the coalition is further strengthened by the involvement of political heavyweights such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, making it a formidable opposition alliance.

“The candidates who placed second, third, and even fourth are aligning. That naturally builds a strong challenge,” Momodu said, suggesting that this development could unsettle the APC ahead of 2027.

He also accused the Tinubu administration of centralising power and undermining democratic processes, claiming that key institutions—including the legislature and electoral system—are increasingly influenced by the executive arm of government. He warned that such a trend poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy.

Momodu further alleged that opposition parties face systemic obstacles, including difficulties in accessing venues, legal pressures, and institutional interference. He argued that these challenges have made opposition unity not just strategic, but necessary.

Dismissing concerns about possible cracks within the ADC coalition, Momodu described such fears as speculative, insisting that current political realities have effectively forced major opposition figures to work together.