Popular rights activist Femi Falana has challenged the
Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to
apologise and quit for betraying the Federal Government and Nigerians.
Falana said Edu’s response to the N585 million scandal was
an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians.
Leaked documents had exposed Edu of directing the Office of
the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay the sum of N585.18 million into
a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.
The ministry claimed Bridget currently serves as the Project
Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and
Ogun states.
But the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin
Madein, rejected Edu’s directive and refused to pay the said sum of N585.18
million to the agent of the minister.
Responding, the minister claimed that the directive followed
due process, adding that it was a move to tarnish her image.
However, Falana described Edu’s response to the allegation
as arrogant.
A statement by Falana reads partly: “It is public knowledge
that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betty
Edu, recently directed the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation
to pay a whopping sum of N585.18 million to a private account owned by one
Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project
Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and
Ogun states.
“Happily, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr.
Oluwatoyin Madein, rightly rejected the illegal directive and refused to pay
the said sum of N585.18 million to the agent of the minister.
“It is interesting to note that the minister has not denied
that she gave approval for the payment of the over half a billion Naira to a
private account in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules as well as
the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the Penal Code
applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Instead of apologising to the federal government and people
of Nigeria and calling it quits for betraying the confidence reposed in her,
the minister has arrogantly said the N585.18 million fraud allegation is a mere
fabrication by her detractors and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to
undermine her ministry’s effort in fighting corruption and uplifting the needy.
“However, notwithstanding that the Accountant-General of the
Federation has successfully frustrated the criminal diversion of the said sum
of N585.18 million from public treasury, it is crystal clear from the leaked
memorandum of the minister that the offence of an attempt to commit a felony
has already been completed.
“There can be no legal justification for the criminal
diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million for disbursement to vulnerable
people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun states since the Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the
vulnerable people.”
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