Tinubu Orders Thorough Investigation of N585m Fund for Vulnerable Paid Into Private Account

President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the payment of N585 million by the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, into a private bank account.

Edu had since admitted paying the money meant for the vulnerable in Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Lagos State, into the bank account belonging to one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu.

Information Minister, Mohammed Idris in a statement on Sunday night, said Tinubu said appropriate actions would be taken after the investigations.

Also on Sunday, the accountant general of the federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, admitted the minister asked her to remit the fund to a private account.

The accountant general, however, says she refused the directive.

The payment has generated a public outcry at a period when the Tinubu administration is facing an acute cash crunch, amidst rising agitation for palliatives over the petrol subsidy removal.

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In the face of public anger, the minister on Sunday insisted she followed due process in the payment procedure.

The FG said that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation acknowledges the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and wish to assure Nigerians that the Government takes these issues most seriously.

The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.