How Suspended Betta Edu Was Blocked From Seeing President Tinubu At Villa

A few hours after she was suspended by President Bola Tinubu over the N585 million scandal yesterday, embattled Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr Betta Edu, was not allowed to see the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigerian leader had earlier yesterday suspended Edu from office with immediate effect and directed 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.

Following her suspension, the minister had arrived at the presidential villa, Abuja, with the intention of having a physical discussion with the president.

According to reports, while she was able to clear all security checks up to the president’s office, she was, however, blocked from seeing him in his office.

It was also learned that apart from being unable to have an audience with President Tinubu, her access tag to the villa was immediately withdrawn from her by the president’s security.

She was ferried out of the president’s office in a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to State House security.

It was not immediately clear if she was later allowed to use her official vehicle out of the presidential villa premises.

She was accused of financial infractions bordering on the approval of payment of about N585 million into private accounts of a civil servant, who is said to be the accountant in charge of grants for vulnerable Nigerians in Akwa Ibom and other states.

The EFCC summoned Edu for interrogation and investigation in connection with the scandal today.

The suspension, according to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, is in line with President Tinubu’s avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

President Tinubu had earlier on Sunday, ordered a comprehensive probe into the alleged N585m scandal in the ministry and promised to “decisively punish” those involved in breaches and infractions unraveled during the investigations.

The minister has, however, denied any wrongdoing, saying the N585milliuon payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states and defended the action.

She said it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.