The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to its headquarters over an alleged N585million scandal.
This comes moments after Betta was suspended by president Bola Tinubu with immediate effect on Monday, January 8, 2024.
An operative of the EFCC, who confirmed the development to DailyTrust said the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the immediate suspension of the Minister in order to pave way for the ongoing investigation that had been ordered by the President.
The source noted that the commission had immediately swung into action immediately the President ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged of payment of N585.189 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states into a private account.
“Our investigation into the alleged payment won’t be thorough if we didn’t recommend the Minister’s suspension. Her suspension will give us liberty to do our job thoroughly as directed by the President.
An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her. We expect her to honour the invitation to give proper insight into the issue at hand. So, we expect her to arrive here anytime soon,” the EFCC official said.
