EFCC Interrogates Betta Edu Over Alleged N585m Disbursement Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) commenced its questioning of the suspended minister, Betta Edu, on Tuesday, concerning an alleged N585 million disbursement fraud, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Edu, accompanied by her aides and legal counsel, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, at 11 am, where she is currently facing investigators. This development follows President Bola Tinubu's suspension of Edu just a day before her appearance at the EFCC office.

The 37-year-old minister found herself embroiled in a scandal involving the misappropriation of N585 million within the humanitarian affairs ministry. This controversy drew widespread criticism from rights groups and activists.

The situation escalated for Edu when the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, confirmed that despite receiving a payment request from the humanitarian ministry, her office did not act on it.

On Monday, President Tinubu took decisive action, suspending Edu with immediate effect and instructing the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the financial transactions of the ministry and its affiliated agencies. Betta Edu, the youngest member of the President's cabinet before her suspension, had rapidly risen through the political ranks, holding state and national offices at a young age.

Prior to her ministerial appointment in August, she served as the Commissioner for Health in Cross River State and held the position of National Women Leader for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Edu's political prominence was evident in her active participation in the campaign for then-presidential candidate Tinubu during the election that brought him into office as President.

Despite her significant role, Edu's ministerial tenure was short-lived, lasting only six months, making it one of the briefest ministerial tenures in recent history. In a related development, the EFCC also questioned Edu's predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, on Monday, regarding an alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure as minister. Following a lengthy 12-hour interrogation, Farouq was allowed to go home but is expected to return on Tuesday for further clarifications on various issues flagged during the Commission's preliminary investigations.