SERAP asks Tinubu to probe Betta Edu’s scandal
A civic group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct a probe of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu. A leaked memo had revealed the minister’s directive to the accountant-general of the federation requesting transfer of N585.2 million meant for vulnerable people into a private account.
SERAP urged attorney-general Lateef Fagbemi to identify and publish the names of anyone who may have received the money.
SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be involved in any improper payment or diversion of public funds should be brought to justice and any diverted public funds returned to the public treasury and paid directly to the rightful beneficiaries.”
“The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the country’s financial regulations and international obligations impose a fundamental obligation on your government to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant for socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians.”
“Your government has a legal responsibility to ensure full compliance with the Financial Regulations 2009, prohibiting the payment of public funds into private accounts, to reduce vulnerability to corruption or risks of the funds being diverted for personal ends or other unlawful purposes.”
“Government officials hold positions of public trust. Public officials are expected to ensure compliance with Nigerian laws and international standards in the discharge of their public functions.”
“The persistent lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds meant to take care of the poor raises issues of public trust, makes the funds vulnerable to corruption or mismanagement, and undermines the integrity of poverty intervention programmes.”
“Your government has a legal obligation to probe and prosecute allegations of abuse of office and corruption in the spending of public funds meant to improve the conditions of vulnerable Nigerians.”
“SERAP also urges you to direct Betta Edu to publish details of spending of public funds drawn from the account of the National Social Investment Program (NSIPA), an agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Allegation, including the names of beneficiaries and details of the amounts received by them since 29 May 2023.”
“SERAP urges you to instruct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor the spending of any public funds drawn from the account(s) of the National Social Investment Program (NSIPA).”
READ ALSO: Why we disregarded Minister Betta Edu’s ₦585.2m transfer request – OAGF
Chapter 7, Section 713 of the Federal Government’s Financial Regulations 2009, states that ‘Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.’”
