Minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation Betta Edu has been accused of using a private bank account to receive N585 million designated for vulnerable Nigerians in four states.

Reports alleged that last December, Ms Edu wrote the accountant-general of the federation, Toyin Madein, demanding that N585 million earmarked to reduce poverty of vulnerable citizens in Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Lagos, and Ogun states be paid into the UBA account — 2003682151— of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

The allegation has cast a shadow over the President Bola Tinubu administration which only kicked off eight months ago.

Reacting to the allegation, Edu insisted on Friday evening that some elements who have been trying to link her to the alleged N44.8 billion fraud in the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) “are behind this latest misadventure.”

She said in a statement, “For the avoidance, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of Grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states. We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in the Kogi state where recipients testified.

“Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023, Kogi in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is Legal in civil service for staff, the Project accountant to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or Programme is completed.”

Sadiya Farouq, the former humanitarian minister under the immediate past Muhammadu Buhari administration, is still under probe over the alleged embezzlement of N37.1 billion while she was in office. (QED)

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