CSOs Ask EFCC To Speed Up Betta Edu's Prosecution

 

Some Civil Society organisations (CSOs) have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to urgently conclude the ongoing probe and prosecute the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu.

The CSOs, United Frontiers Against Corruption, and Humanitarian Ambassadors for Renewed Hope also asked President Bola Tinubu to reverse the suspension of Halima Shehu as the national coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

In a statement jointly signed by the groups' spokespersons, Donatus Abbor and Jacob Danlami, in Abuja, yesterday, they said it is now obvious that all allegations levelled against Shehu were orchestrated by the suspended minister to smear her image.

"We observed with total dismay and utter disappointment the recent admission by Betta Edu at the EFCC of diverting public funds to private accounts despite the warning of the account general of the federation office.

"The ridiculous claim that she was misled by close aides is not justifiable. We are therefore appealing to the anti-graft to immediately conclude its investigation and prosecute the suspended minister before a competent court of law to answer her crimes."

The CSOs added that: “This agency (NSIPA) is very critical to the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but unfortunately Betta Edu and her accomplices are hellbent in destroying the good intentions of Mr President in reducing poverty and the humanitarian crisis plaguing the country.

"We acknowledged the fact that, as minister, she is a signatory to the NSIPA account, but a unilateral decision to move funds without the knowledge of the chief executive and accounting officers of the agency amounts to acts of criminality and impunity.

"Hajiya Halima needs to be commended for saving the nation from great loss by immediately moving the funds to the service providers account of the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

"We heard from reliable sources that she informed the relevant authorities before moving out those funds, and as confirmed by the investigators, those funds have been recovered without a dime missing," he said.