Seizes Suspended Minister’s, Predecessor’s Passports

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) commenced the interrogation of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on Tuesday, January 9, over alleged N585 million fraud in the ministry.

This followed her arrival at its headquarters in Abuja to honour an official invitation sent to her on Monday, January 8 by the Commission to give proper insight into the matter.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu suspended her on Monday over alleged payment of N585 million humanitarian funds meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Cross River and Ogun states into a private account.

In a related development, her predecessor, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, returned to the agency on Tuesday for further investigation over a N37.1billion allegedly laundered by officials of the ministry during her tenure as minister.

The suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, which is under the ministry, Hajia Halima Shehu, is still undergoing investigation at the Commission.

Shehu was responsible for overseeing the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme of former President Muhammadu Buhari to ameliorate the hardship faced by vulnerable groups and individuals in the country.

As investigations into the cases continue, the EFCC has reportedly seized the passports of Shehu, Edu and Farouq, to stop them from fleeing the country while the investigation sis ongoing.

The passport of Farooq, who was suspected to have laundered the amount through a contractor, James Okwete, was seized as part of her bail conditions before she was released late Monday night.