Suspended Nigerian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu is currently in custody of the country’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended her on Monday, the EFCC summoned Edu to its headquarters in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It was gathered that the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the suspension of the Minister to pave the way for the ongoing investigation that had been ordered by the President.
Edu is expected to be grilled over alleged N585 million fraud in her ministry.
The Presidency had withdrawn the pass of the suspended Minister, thereby denying her access to the Aso Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In a viral video, Edu was seen leaving the State House in a black SUV after she was denied access to the president.
A viral document signed by the Minister and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation showed that she ordered the payment of N585,189,500.00 into one of Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private accounts.
The leaked document showed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
The minister’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair, had in a statement on Friday said the payment followed due process.
Edu had also, in a statement she posted on her Facebook page on Saturday, said the allegation was baseless.
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday said Tinubu had directed a thorough investigation into the matter. He added that any breaches would be decisively punished.
