International Courant
In a current incident involving Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, there have been requires her to be faraway from workplace amid allegations of embezzlement of a N585 million palliative fund . The minister has confronted vital public backlash following the disclosure of a leaked memo during which she allegedly directed Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant Normal (AG) of the federation, to switch N585 million to a non-public account.
In line with the leaked memo dated December 20, 2023, Edu directed the Accountant Normal to switch the cash from the account of the Nationwide Social Funding Company to the non-public account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of a federal authorities poverty intervention mission known as ‘Grants for Susceptible Teams”, a mission below the ministry of Mrs. Edu.
I converse on behalf of Edu Rasheed Zubair, her media aide, claims the act is authorized throughout the framework of the Nigerian civil service. Nonetheless, it’s essential to notice that the request is opposite to a number of sections of the Nigerian Monetary Rules 2009, which explicitly prohibit fraud and different types of corruption in authorities affairs. Moreover, Chapter Seven, Part 713 of the Nigerian Monetary Rules 2009 explicitly states: “Private cash shall not below any circumstances be deposited right into a authorities checking account nor shall public cash be deposited into a non-public account.” It additional states: “Any official who deposits public cash into a non-public account shall be deemed to have carried out so with fraudulent intent.”
In an interview with Ventures Africa, an nameless senior authorized officer from a number one industrial financial institution famous: “There are a number of points surrounding this concern. First, her ministry is comparatively new, and her predecessor and pioneering minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, engaged in actions that appeared unlawful. It might be a mirrored image of how they function within the ministry. Nonetheless, depositing public cash into non-public accounts violates public procurement guidelines.” He added that until it could present a legitimate purpose for such approval, there might not essentially be fraudulent intent, however it’s nonetheless incorrect and missing certainty.
In a Twitter submit, political and digital communications skilled Akin Akinwale expressed the view that the ministry may not have been mistaken to make use of a private account.
Inside the civil service, it’s authorized to nominate a employees from the F&A division as mission accountant. Such an individual will use his or her account to obtain the cash, spend it legally and likewise withdraw all receipts and supporting paperwork after this system or mission is accomplished.
— ETTY (@ETTYGeo) January 5, 2024
Political Analyst and Growth and Administration Marketing consultant, Barrister Iyabo Awokoya, on her Twitter account, expressed related sentiments and expressed condolences for the suspended minister. She believed that the minister might have made an harmless mistake, pushed by a zealous willpower to finish her job.
I actually really feel sorry for Betta Edu. I do and I am not sarcastic. Someway I had a premonition for her in my thoughts. I felt like a misstep was going to occur as a result of she was too excited and far and wide. She wanted time to relax and perceive her Ministry. As I warn…
— Madam President (rtd) Iyabo Arinola Ifeoma Awokoya (@iyaboawokoya) January 10, 2024
Based mostly on these skilled arguments, it may be concluded that there’s a disagreement in monetary laws between the federal authorities and different authorities parastatals. The scenario escalated when the leaked doc turned public, with Betta Edu rising as a scapegoat for a dysfunctional political system.
How Betta Edu turned a scapegoat for a dysfunctional political system
Africa Area Information ,Subsequent Massive Factor in Public Knowledg
