Falana Urges EFCC To Prosecute Individuals Involved In N585.18m Charge

Falana Urges EFCC To Prosecute Individuals Involved In N585.18m Charge....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betty Edu, and others implicated in the alleged misappropriation of N585.18 million, funneling it into a private account…….CONTINUE READING

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB) emphasized the need for accountability and legal action. Falana admonished Dr. Betty Edu to refrain from disparaging Nigerians and highlighted that, based on leaked memoranda, the attempt to commit a felony had been evident.

The outspoken lawyer underscored the absence of legal justification for diverting the sum of N585.18 million intended for vulnerable individuals in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States. He pointed out that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had compiled the individual bank accounts of the intended recipients, rendering the diversion unjustifiable.

The full statement reads:

“It has come to public attention that Dr. Betty Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, recently instructed the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585.18 million to a private account held by one Oniyelu Bridget. The ministry claimed that Bridget currently serves as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States. Fortunately, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, rightly rejected this illicit directive and refused to disburse the N585.18 million to the minister’s agent.

Notably, the Minister has not refuted authorizing the payment of over half a billion Naira to a private account, a clear violation of existing Public Service Rules, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act, and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory. Instead of offering an apology to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria and resigning for breaching the trust placed in her, the Minister has arrogantly dismissed the N585.18 million fraud allegation as a baseless fabrication by her detractors and an alleged ploy by mischief-makers to undermine her ministry’s anti-corruption initiatives and support for the needy.

Despite the successful prevention of the criminal diversion of N585.18 million from the public treasury by the Accountant-General of the Federation, it is evident from leaked memoranda that the attempt to commit a felony has been completed. There is no legal justification for the diversion of the said sum meant for vulnerable individuals in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States, especially when the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has already compiled the individual bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Given the facts and circumstances surrounding this deeply embarrassing episode, we commend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for recovering N37 billion earmarked for vulnerable people in Nigeria. We also implore the Commission to expedite the ongoing investigation into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and promptly bring all implicated individuals to trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

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