The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the sack and prosecution of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu over N585 million fraud allegation.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, said it was “tragic and heartbreaking” that a minister entrusted with public funds to support millions of poor Nigerians turned around to divert hundreds of millions of naira meant for the wellbeing of the poor”.
He said: “The continuing stay of Betta Edu as minister is therefore provocative and amounts to stealing from the people and daring them to do their worst.”
The PDP alleged that the lack of remorse by the minister, especially her attempt to justify the alleged illegal diversion of funds was “consistent with the insensitivity, heartlessness, impunity and criminal audacity inherent in the APC administration.”
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“What Nigerians demand of President Tinubu at the moment is to demonstrate commitment to the fight against corruption by immediately sacking Betta Edu, hand her over for investigation, prosecution,” it added.
A viral document signed by the Minister and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had revealed that she ordered the payment of the money into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
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.
Civil society organisations and activists had called for her sacking.
The information minister on Sunday said the government was aware of concerns raised by the public on the suspected fraud, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed a thorough investigation into the matter.
