Nigerian Poverty Minister Suspended Over Alleged Diversion of Public Funds to Her Personal Account 

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has taken action against Minister Betta Edu of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, suspending her from office amidst allegations of diverting approximately 585 million naira ($640,000) of public funds into a personal bank account.

The suspension comes after widespread public outrage following reports of the alleged misappropriation of funds. President Tinubu’s office issued a statement confirming the suspension and announcing an investigation into Dr. Edu’s ministry.

Dr. Edu, 37, who holds the distinction of being the youngest minister in President Tinubu’s cabinet and is considered a close ally of the president, has denied any wrongdoing. Her office clarified that although she approved the transfer of funds to an account not under her name, it was designated for the implementation of grants to support vulnerable groups.

The revelation of a leaked document purportedly showing Dr. Edu instructing a senior treasury official to transfer the money to the personal account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant for the government’s Grants for Vulnerable Groups initiative, has sparked significant controversy.

President Tinubu, emphasizing the need to regain public trust, has ordered a comprehensive investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into all financial transactions related to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. He urged Dr. Edu to fully cooperate with the investigation.

This suspension marks a rare occurrence in Nigerian politics, as Dr. Edu becomes the first minister to lose her position under President Tinubu’s administration, which began in May the previous year. Previous administrations, notably that of Muhammadu Buhari, saw minimal dismissals, sacking only two ministers during an eight-year tenure.

President Tinubu has additionally called for institutional reforms within government programs aimed at poverty alleviation, emphasizing the need to restore confidence in initiatives like the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP), including the Grants for Vulnerable Groups.