The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized the passports of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu and her predecessor Sadiya Umar-Farouq as investigations continue into corruption allegations against them.
Ms. Edu arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja today at 10am and was still being questioned as of 7pm. The anti-graft agency also grilled three bank CEOs over their alleged involvement in the fraudulent transfer of funds from the ministry.
Earlier, Ms. Umar-Farouq was interrogated for 12 hours on Monday regarding the alleged laundering of N37.1 billion. Both ministers have had their passports confiscated and restricted from leaving Nigeria pending conclusion of the probes.
The EFCC source revealed that new revelations emerged from the questioning of both Ms. Edu and the ministry’s suspended CEO Halima Shehu. Investigations are still ongoing into the controversial movement of N44 billion in December 2023 without executive approval.
According to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the humanitarian ministry has been turned into a “cash cow” under successive APC administrations. He called for urgent reforms and prosecution of all those who have corruptly enriched themselves with public funds meant for the poor.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to unraveling the depth of fraud and taking all indicted persons to account.
