The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly considering granting bail to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. According to reliable sources within the anti-graft agency, this development is expected to occur later today, as confirmed by Channels Television on Tuesday.
According to Channels TV, Betta Edu, aged 37, has been under intense scrutiny for her involvement in a scandal related to the approval of a payment amounting to N585.2 million into a private account owned by a civil servant. This situation has sparked criticism from various quarters, including rights groups and activists. In response to the controversy, President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu on Monday, directing the EFCC to initiate an investigation into the allegations.
Earlier reports from Channels Television indicated Edu's arrival at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, accompanied by her aides and lawyer. She is presently facing inquiries from EFCC investigators.
Edu faced additional challenges when the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, confirmed that, despite receiving a payment request from the humanitarian ministry, her office did not act on it. Subsequently, amidst public outcry and calls for her dismissal, President Tinubu suspended Edu with immediate effect, marking the first removal from his 48-member cabinet inaugurated in August of the previous year.
In a related development, on Monday, the EFCC interrogated Edu's predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, over the alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure as a minister. After a lengthy 12-hour session, she was allowed to go home but is expected to return on Tuesday for further clarifications on various issues flagged by the Commission during its preliminary investigations.
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