Betta Edu’s Future in Doubt as Scandal Deepens: Unlikely Return to Office

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, is facing an uncertain future as indications suggest that her return to office is unlikely. Sources from the presidency, speaking anonymously, have hinted that the alleged scandal involving Edu surpasses what has been made public, casting doubt on her resuming ministerial duties.

One official, who preferred not to be named, told Punch, “What we have in that ministry is more than what has been revealed. I can tell you that Edu may not return to the ministry or even continue as a minister. She may not be the only one involved. But as it stands now, she should forget the idea or dream of her returning to the Federal Executive Council. In fact, she is gone.”

The scandal revolves around a comprehensive inquiry directed by President Bola Tinubu into the misappropriation of N585 million in the ministry. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating Edu for allegedly authorizing the transfer of funds into a private account.

The probe extends to former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who is under scrutiny for alleged N37.1 billion money laundering, and Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme. According to reports, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered over N50 billion from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in 2023.

The funds, initially intended for vulnerable citizens, were blocked by ICPC during a period of naira scarcity. Attempts to transfer the money into private bank accounts were thwarted, and the recovered funds were deposited into the Central Bank of Nigeria. An anonymous source disclosed, “During the naira scarcity between late 2022 and 2023, the ICPC under Prof Owasanoye blocked and recovered the sum of N50 billion from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The money was meant for the vulnerable and the poor people in the country, which the ministry could not distribute due to the scarcity of currency during the naira redesign period.” As investigations intensify, EFCC detectives are questioning senior civil servants connected to the financial scandals in the ministry.

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