Group raises concern over silence on suspended Minister, Betta Edu

A civil society group, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has expressed concern over prolonged silence by the federal government on the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, on allegation of diversion of N585 million grant.

CACOL in a statement by the Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo, on behalf of the Chairman, Debo Adeniran, called on the anti-graft agencies in Nigeria to tell the public the state of their investigation of Betta Edu, who was suspended following allegation of diversion of one N585 million federal government grant meant for the vulnerable into private accounts.

CACOL declared: “it was recently reported by some sections of the media that Edu sent condolences to the victims of the recent Jos building collapse in a message carrying the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation’s letterhead.

“What is she insinuating with her action? Is she back to her desk as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation?

“If she is back, don’t we have the right to know? In as much as she has every right to condole with the families of those that lost their lives in the tragic incident, she ought to have done it in her personal capacity without involving the ministry since she is no more at the helms of affairs. The condolences, which ought to be met with sympathy, caused a stir on social media as the minister was still expected to be grilled by the anti-graft agency.

“We at CACOL, therefore, call on the EFCC and ICPC to tell Nigerians the outcome of their investigations into her case. Already, most people are of the notion that the case will be swept under the carpet especially as she is a very strong and prominent member of the ruling party.”