Palliative: Knocks as Betta Edu’s aide says N585m transfer into private account is legal

Some social media users are currently tackling Rasheed Zubair, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.

This was after Zubair said the ‘disbursed’ N585,189,500.00 transferred into a personal account is legal and in line with extant civil service rules.

Edu in a viral document personally signed by her and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, instructed the disbursement of the funds to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

The document also showed that the payment of the N585.189 million grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s account.

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But reacting to the leaked document, Zubair in a statement on Friday, said the payment for the vulnerable group followed due process.

According to Zubair, the payment of the grant to the account of Bridget was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

The story, which was posted on Daily Trust X, has amassed many views, with some even citing Section 713 of the Public Sector Financial Regulations of 2009 to counter Zubair’s claim.

The rule states that, “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

Below are some of such comments:

@jonehmk said: “Nigerians would not expect you to say otherwise cos you are only doing what [you] are paid for but Mr. Aide it’s very illegal and your supervisor ought to have resigned by now in saner country.”

@salakwa1 wrote: “That money was never for any palliative. That money will surely be squandered and we all know this shit.”

@DavidOwodoluA: “How this is justifiable, is it because this country is becoming lawless, what costs you to employ field officers to develop an App to be used, and then send them to all communities to enumerate those that are entitled to d palliative and let the money go directly to dem 2ru d app.”

@aminu_mott72052: “Private is private, public is public. Ask your legal adviser.”

@Charderss: “How can this payment be legal? There ought to be an official account specifically dedicated for grants to vulnerable groups, not the private account of the accountant concerned.”