The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, currently facing investigation for an alleged N585 million fraud, meticulously followed existing due processes, a legal practitioner, Barrister Jim Ekpeyong, has said.
Ekpeyong in a statement in Abuja yesterday observed that senior officials of the Ministry, who handled the entire process, seemed to have disappeared from the controversy, describing the development as tactical manoeuvre and calling on President Bola Tinubu to demand further clarification on the matter.
The lawyer explained that relevant documents revealed that Edu’s alleged involvement in a fund transaction request, approved and executed into an assistant director, Mrs. Bridget’s account, was confirmed by sources from the ministry as adhering to Financial Regulations applicable to MDAs.
The document, he said, confirmed that the suspended minister adhered to established processes within the humanitarian affairs ministry, supported by Financial Regulations for MDAs.
Ekpeyong said another document shares details of the 2021 FG’s payment to project accountant’s personal accounts in MDAs, highlighting Mrs. Bridget’s role in overseeing financial activities related to the programme.
He argued that the minister’s actions aligned with established procedures, emphasising Mrs. Bridget’s duty to manage funds disbursement and retirements under the specified regulations.
Ekpeyong said the funds in question were said to be intended for beneficiaries under Mrs. Bridget’s monitoring and supervision through a payment system. Notably, Mrs. Bridget, an assistant director and civil servant in the ministry, is stated to be unrelated to Dr. Betta.
He defended Mrs. Bridget, asserting that the payment request process was well-established, insisting there was no illegality involved.
He argued that the controversy appears to be a trap set to tarnish the image of the federal government.
He therefore called for thorough investigation in the veracity of the allegations, rejecting the call for Dr. Betta Edu’s resignation, pointing out that her proactive reporting of a missing N44 billion from the NSIPA account, with a subsequent recovery of N39.8 billion was good.
He contended that the minister’s commitment is driven by a desire to serve and achieve President Tinubu’s poverty alleviation plans, dismissing accusations of fraudulent intentions.
“The narrative underscored Dr. Betta Edu’s dedication to breaking records and her courage in pursuing the government’s goals despite challenges”, he said.
He said a source in the ministry notes said she has done nothing illegal. “It was just a trap which I believe she’s going to survive. The process by which she requested the payment to Mrs Bridget, was already established in the ministry, there are regulations for it within the ministry and all MDAs have been using it over the decades.
“So, it’s not that Edu had bad intentions nor is the destination account associated with her, but I think some individuals just want to use her to embarrass the government. People that are after her position took advantage of the situation and the target is to tarnish the image of the government.
“Edu is just a young woman willing to serve, break records in this government, and achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plans to pull millions of Nigerians out of poverty, which many are scared of her courage and hardworking spirit,” Barrister Ekpenyong stated.
He urged President Tinubu to check the activities of old brigade politicians working against “the brilliant new breed appointees in his administration.”
