Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) moved N226,188,500 million to Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections.
Nigerian netizens on X (formerly Twitter) have asked President Bola Tinubu to sack his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu for spending public funds on flight tickets and airport taxis to move her team members from Abuja to Kogi State, even though the latter has no airport.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) moved N226,188,500 million to Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states on November 11, 2023.
A breakdown of the disbursement of the funds shows that N72,374,500 was moved to Kogi State on November 6, 2023, through the Director of Finance Account, National Social Investment Agency, just five days before the governorship election.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the minister’s advanced team received N2,515,000 for DTA for five nights, local running @30% of DTA, for flight tickets and airport taxis.
Each of the minister’s advanced team members comprising Hon Thalis Olonite Apalowo (NPM, GVG), Mrs Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola (Project Accountant), Ibrahim Adamu (Department of State Services), Adejumo Olusegun Agbailu (TTL, GVG)), Mr Iyanda Abiodun (Protocol Officer), Chime Jessica Ginika (ONPM) and Salami Surajudeen Ojo (Driver) received N200,000 for flight ticket and N20,000 for airport taxi, amounting to N1.54 million.
Similarly, the minister’s (main) team received N2,159,500 for DTA for five nights, local running @30% of DTA, for flight tickets and airport taxis. Each of them apart from the minister also received N200,000 for flight ticket and N20,000 for airport taxi.
Edu received N300,000 for flight ticket while nothing was recorded under her name for airport taxi.
The members of the ministers (main) team are Caroline Nelson (SA Strategy), Abdulrasheed Olariwaju (SA Media), Mamman Mohammed Sanusi (SA Protocol), Agbor Smart Edim, Felix A. David (Chief Details) and Ibrahim Adamu (Department of State Services).
Findings by SaharaReporters show that while Kogi State has no airport, the nearest airport to it is in Akure, the Ondo State capital, which is about five hours by road. Abuja to Lokoja is about three hours by road so people often travel from Abuja to Kogi by road. Other airports around Kogi are in Owerri, Imo State; Enugu, Enugu State and Asaba, Delta State, but they are all farther than Akure from Lokoja.
This has been condemned by Nigerian tweeps who urged President Tinubu to remove Betta Edu as he did to Halima Shehu, the Suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
For instance, an X user, IshaqAboubaqar said, “If there is a way we can accept corruption regardless of how minimal the situation is, then we are doomed to fail. If @officialABAT can suspend Halima immediately, then why not Betta Edu. We should stand against and intransigence to any act of corruption.”
According to Hon. Babs Sankara, the acting new media aide to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, allowing Betta to remain in her position by Monday morning will show that President Bola Tinubu's administration is not ready to provide Nigeria with the change he promised.
“If Betta Edu still has a job by tomorrow morning, then we will know that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not ready to lead this country. You cannot be swift in suspending Halima Shehu while Edu Betta, who has suspicious academic records and serious allegations against her, still has a job,” he said.
“If Betta Edu still has a job by tomorrow morning, then we will know that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not ready to lead this country. You cannot be swift in suspending Halima Shehu while Edu Betta, who has suspicious academic records and serious allegations against her, still has a job. Suspend her now and allow @officialEFCC to invite her for interrogation,” another user,” Sarki said.
He continued: “To ensure a fair investigation, @edu_betta should be suspended until all inquiries are finalized. There's no justification for her to continue as a minister under this administration, especially following Halima Shehu's suspension. This serves as a genuine test for @officialABAT, @NGRPresident to demonstrate his commitment to governing the country and combating corruption.”
@IU_Wakilii also tweeted: “I’m a fan of Betta Edu but honestly I believe Betta Edu is as guilty as the NSIPA Boss. There is more to this NSIPA saga than we know, There is a lot in the dark. She should be thoroughly investigated by the EFCC.”
@MFaarees: “We've seen so many things in Tinubu's administration making it look like the administration is against one particular region, the swift at which Halima Shehu was suspended and this delay in Betta Edu's suspension is another proof.”
“Edu shld tender a resignation letter and tender unreserve apology to Nigerians and good pple of cross river state whom she represent and burry her face in shame for a case of thief,” Sammy Sam said.
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