Three Women Linked to N84.1bn Fraud in Barely Five-Year-old Humanitarian Ministry

Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation may be described as a cesspool of corruption if allegations of corrupt practices levelled against three women who superintended affairs in the beleaguered ministry can be proved.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have to investigate a diversion of about N84b.

The ministry founded in August 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari was headed by Sadiya Umar-Farouq until the end of the Buhari-led administration in May 2023.

The second minister appointed by President Bola Tinubu is equally a woman, Betta Edu.

The ministry has been in the news following allegations of huge financial impropriety levelled against the former and the sitting ministers.

Umar-Farouq is linked to the diversion of N37.1bn while Edu is linked to a fresh N3 billion.

Also, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, was picked up this week in connection with the movement of N44 billion from NSIPA account to some suspicious accounts within the last four days in Dec. 2023.

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Edu has denied the alleged diversion of N3 billion from the account of NSIPA, describing it as spurious.

Daily Asset recalls that NSIPA was created in 2016 under the administration of former President Muhammadu to address socio-economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians.

The programme was founded on four pillars namely the N-POWER Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.

Each of the pillars was designed to empower the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians to attain an acceptable standard of living irrespective of their locations nationwide.

However, the essence of the programme seems to be defeated as corruption allegations have continued to rock the ministry in charge of the programme.

Edu in a statement entitled, Re-Betta Edu Fingered In N3bn NSIPA Fraud Scandal; A Tissue of Lies, Spurious Allegation to Divert Anti-Graft Agency’s Attention, signed by Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the minister, stated that the allegation is false.

“The attention of the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu has been drawn to spurious allegations suspected to have been sponsored by some fifth columnists aimed at dragging the hard-earned reputation and integrity of the Honourable Minister into the ongoing investigations of NSIPA scandal by the anti-graft agency.

“Ordinarily, there is no substance in the said publication currently in some online media and does not deserve a response, but there is a need to set the record straight for Nigerians and followers of the current development in NSIPA under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to be properly informed.

“This is necessary because social media, in recent times, has been riddled with lots of fake and unsubstantiated news.

“There was no time the minister, Dr. Betta Edu requested for any fund, needless to mention withdrawal of such amount of money to the tune of N3 billion since her assumption of office…in the last four months, albeit one month was quoted in the sponsored Fake News.

“The Verification of the National Social Register (NSR) as quoted in the said publication online, was approved not only by Mr. President but also by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Mandate to expand the NSR as well as imbue it with integrity.

“The conclusion of the well-publicised Verification Exercise led to the expansion of the National Social Register and commencement of payment sequentially and directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to various beneficiaries.

“For the records, all the Programmes embarked by the ministry under the current Minister, Dr Betta Edu, thus far, including Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) and others secured the approval of Mr President.

“The Honourable Minister wishes to inform the general public that she has no hand in the current travails of the leadership of the NSIPA, therefore her good name should not be dragged into the ongoing suspension and investigations as approved by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement read.

Similarly, the former minister Umar-Farouq is undergoing investigation following a probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.

The former minister who was invited by EFCC interrogators failed to show up on Wednesday.

She sought an extension of time to appear before EFCC saying she was indisposed.

EFCC Head of Public Relations, Dele Oyewale confirmed that Umar had sent a legal representative to the commission asking it to give her more time to honour the invitation.

He said the commission had mandated her to submit herself without further delay.

At the moment, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIPA, Halima Shehu is under EFCC investigation.

Shehu, who initially resisted arrest on Tuesday was finally picked up by EFCC.

She was linked to the diversion of N44 billion from the NSIPA account to some suspicious accounts within four days in Dec. 2023.

The interception and recovery of the cash followed some alleged payments of billions of naira by the agency without presidential approval.

EFCC operatives who were drafted to the National Coordinator’s private office and home arrested her at about 8:00pm on Tuesday.

Credit: Daily Asset