President Bola Tinubu has directed a holistic investigation into the allegation that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, directed payment of N585.18m into a private account.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.
Idris said that the government is determined to get to the root of the matter and take necessary punitive measures where violations are identified in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.
The minister had come under scathing condemnations on Friday when a leaked memo of December 20, 2023 revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.
The Ministry had claimed that Oniyelu is the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The Ministry explained on Friday that the N585.18 million grant for vulnerable groups in four states was approved and followed the stipulated due process of government.
In his statement, the Information Minister, said that the Tinubu Administration is transparent and accountable to the people and would ensure that funds are allocated and utilized to address the needs of Nigerians.
The statement reads “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.
“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.
“The public is advised to note, against the backdrop of various unverified narratives circulating on the Internet, that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under the leadership of Minister Mohammed Idris, is the primary source for verified information about events and actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Only accurate details will be shared with the public. The Ministry is committed to providing timely updates to keep Nigerians informed about the progress of the investigation.
“We urge Nigerians to exercise patience as the investigation unfolds. The government is focused on ensuring a fair and unbiased process, and the findings will be communicated duly and transparently to the public.”
