The stock of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr Betta Edu’s scandals appear to be high.
Edu is enmeshed in N585m
scandal stemming from a memo she authored instructing the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to transfer the said sum meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River,Ogun and Lagos states to the private bank account of one Oniyelu Bridget in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules.
The leakage of the memo sparked growing calls for her sack and prosecution on corruption grounds with the federal government weighing in by announcing that a probe has been launched into it.
“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said.
It emerged on Sunday that the embattled humanitarian minister allegedly approved funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for herself and her team to move from Abuja to Kogi State when there is no airport in the state.
This is according to Punchng saying a total of 14 officials of the ministry and a security official got approval of N3.16m for flight tickets and airport taxis to travel to Kogi to disburse grants to vulnerable groups in the state.
Quoting the publication verbatim, it published further:
An internal memo from the National Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups, which was sent to the humanitarian minister on November 6, 2023, and seen by one of our correspondents, showed that Edu approved the fund for ‘The disbursement under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023.’
A total of 14 officials of the ministry and a security official got approval of N3.16m for flight tickets and airport taxis to travel to Kogi to disburse grants to vulnerable groups in the state.
An internal memo from the National Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups, which was sent to the humanitarian minister on November 6, 2023, and seen by one of our correspondents, showed that Edu approved the fund for ‘The disbursement under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023.’
The document showed that seven of the minister’s advanced team got N1.54m for their flights and airport taxis from Abuja to Kogi, while the other seven members of her main team including Edu, received N1.62m for the same purpose.
The memo, which was issued by Thalis Apalowo, National Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups, indicated that the minister’s advanced team received a total of N2.515m for duty tour allowance for five nights; for local running, which was 30 per cent of DTA (duty tour allowance); and for flight tickets and airport taxis.
Each of them received N200,000 for a flight ticket and N20,000 for an airport taxi, amounting to N1.54m.
Edu’s (main) team got approval of N2,159,500 for DTA for five nights; for local running, which was 30 per cent of DTA; and for flight tickets and airport taxis. Each of them apart from the minister, also received N200,000 for a flight ticket and N20,000 for an airport taxi.
The memo indicated that the minister received N300,000 for her flight ticket to Kogi State, which has no airport, while there was no mention of what she got for her airport taxi.
The memo, however, stated that 3,000 beneficiaries under the vulnerable groups were to receive N20,000 each, making a total of N60m. It stated that the logistics for the disbursement was N3m.
The leaked memo revealed that N3.16m was for flight tickets and airport taxis to Kogi, which is about a three-hour drive from Abuja. Many travellers from Abuja to Kogi State travel by road, including senior officials of the state.
