The 37-year-old poverty alleviation minister denied any wrongdoing when she was suspended in January.
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Nigeria Recovers 30 Billion Naira in Corruption Probe, Over 50 Bank Accounts Traced
In an ongoing corruption investigation, Nigeria has reclaimed 30 billion naira ($24 million; £19 million), which was found across more than 50 bank accounts, according to the financial watchdog.
The probe targets Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, who faced allegations in January regarding the diversion of $640,000 of public funds into a personal bank account.
President Bola Tinubu initiated the investigation into Edu’s ministry following her suspension. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Edu’s office stated that she had approved the transfer into a non-personal account, designated for grants to vulnerable groups.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported significant progress during the six-week investigation, uncovering numerous leads to explore.
“We are currently scrutinizing over 50 bank accounts where we’ve traced funds. This is a substantial endeavor,” stated EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede in the agency’s monthly e-magazine.
Olukoyede urged patience from Nigerians awaiting justice, emphasizing the meticulousness required in completing the probe.
Assuring the public, Olukoyede confirmed that the recovered funds had been returned to the federal government’s coffers.
The suspension of a minister is an uncommon occurrence in Nigeria, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
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