Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (Dr Betta Edu,) asked the Accountant General to send public funds to a private account
Dr Betta Edu Allegedly Asked Accountant General to Disburse Public Funds to Private Account In a recent development, Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has been accused of asking
Dr Betta Edu Allegedly Asked Accountant General to Disburse Public Funds to Private Account
In a recent development, Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has been accused of asking Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation, to transfer public funds into a private account, according to an insider report by SaharaReporters.
The alleged private account belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a project manager in a letter reportedly authored by the minister. The letter marked with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/OHM/S.208, dated December 20, 2023, reportedly requested a transfer sum exceeding N585 million into the private account in question.
The letter, overtly signed by Minister Dr. Edu, is titled ‘Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States Respectively’. The case, raising eyebrows among the public, questions the robust systems of checks and balances legislated to prevent such so-called 'misallocations' from occurring.
Dr. Betta Edu, a formidable figure in the world of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is yet to offer a comment on the allegations levied against her. Meanwhile, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, the Federation's Accountant General, is also maintaining silence over the issue.
It reads, “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.
The letter said the payment of N585,189,500.00 –the total sum – should be made to a UBA account: 2003682151 belonging to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
“This payment should be made from the National Social Investment Officer account with account number: 0020208461037 to the Project Accountant’s details listed above,” it added.
This unfolding query underscores a perennial concern surrounding alleged appropriation and potential mismanagement of funds intended for the mitigation of impoverishment and support for societies' most vulnerable. The potential misuse of such funds threatens to undermine the significant efforts in eradicating poverty and providing necessary aid to individuals in dire need, particularly within the states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun.
With the alleged transfer involving a gargantuan figure of over N585 million, significant concerns abound around issues of fiscal transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Observers are now keeping a close watch on ensuing developments, speculating on the potential reverberations such an event could produce within the higher echelons of power.
At present, the public eagerly awaits an official statement from both Dr. Betta Edu and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, in hopes of shedding light on these unsettling allegations. As the situation continues to evolve, accidental or intentional, legitimate or fraudulent, the alleged incident has surely furrowed brows, bringing the seriousness of fiscal responsibility and accountability into sharp focus amid public discourse.
