ANEEJ Welcomes Suspension of Betta Edu, Urges comprehensive investigation of Humanitarian Affairs Ministry
ABUJA, NIGERIA. January 8, 2024… In a swift move by the office of the President, ANEEJ acknowledges and commends the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Minister Betta Edu in response to serious allegations of corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. As an organization dedicated to advocating for transparency and accountability, ANEEJ stands firm in its belief that every misappropriated fund intended for the welfare of the impoverished must be recovered and returned.
The suspension marks a crucial step towards accountability, but ANEEJ emphasizes the need for a comprehensive investigation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) given that it has lately become a cesspool of corruption.
Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ, said “this investigation should be comprehensive and should cover the allegations against immediate past Minister, Sadia Umar-Farouk, and the suspended Head and National Coordinator of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Hajia Halima Shehu. It should not only focus on the beneficiaries of the sleaze, but also scrutinize the involved companies, showcasing the government’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption and upholding the beneficial ownership policy in Nigeria.”
Ugolor further highlights the urgency for President Tinubu’s administration to reinforce action in implementing the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles. The lack of transparency and accountability within the management of social investments under Mrs. Betta Edu’s tenure and her predecessor in office underscores the necessity for immediate action.
“In conjunction with anti-corruption efforts to unearth the fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, ANEEJ, alongside our anti-corruption partners, through the Scale Project supported by Palladium and USAID, will initiate Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to launch a People’s Tribunal,” states Ugolor. This move aims to exert significant pressure on the government, discouraging impunity and ensuring swift justice.
Rev David Ugolor asserts, “Crime must not pay, and the Tinubu government must prioritize the fight against corruption as a fundamental agenda of his regime.”
ANEEJ remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that justice is served and that the Nigerian populace can trust in the government’s efforts to combat corruption effectively.
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