The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu last December asked the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to warehouse over N66 billion unspent in 2023 for the ministry.
A letter from the Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Accountant General, made the request less than two weeks before the end of the 2023 financial year.
The letter exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters was dated December 20, 2023 and signed by Edu.
It was titled, ‘Warehousing of Unspent Balance Fund from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation NSIP Account (NSIO) for Year 2023 Financial Year.’
The letter read, “From 2020 to date, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has in its budget line the National Social Investment Office which runs the National Social Investment Programme saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring social Investment towards enhancing the livelihood of the people which is in line with the renew hope agenda of the present administration.
“The NSIPA is facing some challenge in disbursing and processing payment to our beneficiaries and considering the year is coming to an end by 31″ December, 2023; we have balances in various accounts as follows,
1) NSIO/ Special Intervention 0020208461637 (CBN): N65,828,891,947.58
2) NSIO 0020208461077 (CBN): N500,000,000.00
“Sequel to the above, we crave the indulgence of the Accountant General of the Federation to kindly warehouse the Funds above to enable us discharge our obligations and pay all our expenditure accordingly, as we already have approvals from the President to implement.”
“Please accept my warmest regards,” Edu added.
The total amount that Edu requested the Accountant General to ‘warehouse’ by the end of the 2023 financial year amounted to N66,328,891,947.58 (N65,828,891,947.58 and N500,000,000.00).
On January 8, 2024, President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu from office with immediate effect.
The President further directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
Tinubu further directed Edu to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Edu’s suspension followed reports of alleged misappropriation of funds against her as poverty alleviation minister.
According to a letter obtained by a major online medium the private account belonged to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a project manager by the minister.
A letter from the minister with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208 to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Madein dated December 20, 2023, asked that over N585 million should be sent to a private account.
The letter signed by the minister, Dr Edu, is titled ‘Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States Respectively’.
It read, “I hereby approve the payment of the cumulative sum of five hundred and eighty-five million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand, five hundred naira (N585,189,500.00). These are payments for programmes and activities of the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups.”
The details show that N219,429,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom State; N73,828,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Cross River State; N219,462,250.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Lagos State while N72,468,750.00 was for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Ogun State.
