From Moshood Olawale Karim
It is worthy of note that human rights activists are speaking up against corruption and financial misappropriation in Tinubu’s government.
Deji Adeyanju’s call on the President to investigate the alleged financial scandal involving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, is a step in the right direction.
If found guilty, Edu should be held accountable for her actions. It’s also commendable that the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, refused to grant Edu’s request to transfer funds into a private account, showing that there are still public officials with integrity in Nigeria.
The activist had called on President Tinubu to sack the Minister if found guilty of the offence.
In a statement he signed and made available to Uptown Press, Adeyanju said Tinubu should ensure a transparent and independent investigation into the scandal.
He said: “This action by the Accountant-General is in line with Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009, which clearly states that personal money shall not be paid into a government bank account, nor should any public money be paid into a private account.
“I applaud the Accountant-General for her unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.
“Her refusal to comply with the improper and illegal request by the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs demonstrates her integrity and dedication to the rule of law. By adhering to the Financial Regulations, she has set a commendable example for other public officials to follow.
“In light of these developments, I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action against the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
“The request made by the Minister to transfer such a substantial amount into an individual’s private account is a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations. It raises serious concerns about the misuse of public funds and suggests a breach of trust by a high-ranking government official.
“Adeyanju urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a transparent and independent investigation into the matter and, if found guilty, to suspend the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs pending further disciplinary actions saying the senseless looting perpetrated by Betta Edu reason military truncated severally democratic governments in the country. The president should sack her and preserve our democracy.
“This step is crucial to maintaining public confidence in the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring the prudent management of public resources.”
Hopefully, this will lead to more transparency and accountability in the government’s handling of public funds.
