The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has recovered N30 billion in the ongoing investigation of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
The anti-graft agency also stated that, following the discovery, it has placed 50 bank accounts under investigation.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu from office on January 8, 2023, according to Persecondnews, for allegedly diverting N585 million intended for grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states into a private account.
The President also suspended Halima Shehu, coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), domiciled in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, over an alleged ₦44 billion fraud.
Similarly, Tinubu also suspended the Social Investment Programme while directing the EFCC to take over the case and probe the embattled officials.
The latest development following the ongoing investigation was revealed in a bulletin titled “EFCC Alert,” detailing some major arrests, prosecutions, and recoveries made by the commission within the last month.
The document authorised by the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reads: “Update on the Betta Edu investigation.”
“We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension, and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.
“Moreover, concerning this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government.
“It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. Some cases, take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it, and we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen.
“Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case, and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.
“As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal. Then you ask about my staff strength.
“And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on. Nigerians have seen the impact of what we have done so far, by way of some people being placed on suspension and by way of the recoveries that we have made. We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation.
“If it is about seeing people in jail, well, let them wait. Everything has a process to follow. So Nigerians should wait and give us the benefit of the doubt.”
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