A New Twist as AGF Faults Betta Edu’s Request, Says N585m Payment Not Honoured

*Criticises bulk payment to an individual’s account 

*N585m fraud allegation against me baseless, Edu insists

Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Laleye Dipo in Minna

A new twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding a memo by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, requesting the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to pay N585,198,500.00 for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, as the AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, yesterday faulted the minister’s request to her office.
While denying honouring the request, the AGF clarified that her office does not make payments for projects and programmes on behalf of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

She also clarified that no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the project accountant, contrary to the minister’s position that it was legal for Onyelu Bridget to be paid the money as the Project Accountant for Grants to Vulnerable Groups (GVG).
According to the AGF, such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
This is coming as the minister yesterday described the N585 million fraud allegation against her as baseless and an attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort in fighting corruption.

The memo from the minister to the AGF with reference number: FMHAPA/HQ/S.208 and dated December 20, 2023, was titled: ‘Mandate for payment grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Lagos and Ogun states’ respectively.
The letter, which was circulated in social media, read: “I hereby approve the payment for the accumulative sum of five hundred and eighty-five million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand and five hundred naira (N585,180,500.00). These are payments for programmes and activities of the Renewed Hope grants for vulnerable groups.

“Details provided below: 2023 grant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom State, N219,429,750.00; 2023 grant for vulnerable groups in Cross Rivers, N783,828,750.00; 2023 grant for vulnerable groups in Lagos State, N219,462,250.00 and grant for vulnerable groups in Ogun State, N72,468,750.00 with total at N585,189,500.00.
“The payment should be made from the National Social Investment office account with account number 0020208461037 to the project’s accountant’s details listed above as Onyelu Bridget, UBA account.”

Reacting to the controversy generated by the payment request, Special Adviser to the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, said the N585,198,500.00 was approved, adding that it was meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.On the minister’s request for the payment to be made into a private account, the statement insisted that “Onyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant to be paid and use same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after project or programme is completed.”

But in her reaction, the AGF yesterday denied honouring the N585.198 million payment request.
 According to Madein, whose position was contained in a statement by the Director of Press at the OAGF, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, it is not her responsibility to make payments for projects and programmes on behalf of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The AGF clarified that allocations are released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget, adding that such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.

She explained that although her Office received the said request from the Ministry, it did not carry out the payment.
According to her, Edu’s ministry was advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
The AGF noted that in such situations, payments are usually processed by the affected ministries as self-accounting entities.

She added that no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the Project Accountant.
Madein added that such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.
She reiterated her determination to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.
She advised MDAs to always ensure that the requisite steps are taken in carrying out financial transactions.

N585m Fraud Allegation Against Me Baseless, Edu Insists

Meanwhile, Edu has described the N585 million fraud allegation against her as baseless and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort to fight corruption.
The embattled minister made this known in a statement posted on her Facebook page yesterday.
Breaking silence on the matter which has since gone viral, the minister noted that the allegation is a mere fabrication by her detractors who seek to frustrate her efforts in her fight against corruption and uplifting the needy.

She said: “I am writing to address recent news circulating about alleged fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation.
“As the minister, I want to assure you that these claims are baseless and an attempt to undermine the efforts we are making to fight corruption and uplift those in need.
“In the course of our work, we have encountered resistance from forces whose hands may not be clean, but I want to emphasise that our commitment to transparency, accountability, and eradicating corruption remains unwavering.

“The challenges we face only strengthen our resolve to serve with integrity and dedication.
“I believe in the power of truth prevailing, and with God as my strength, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the less privileged. Your trust and support are invaluable as we navigate through these unfounded allegations.
Also, in a post on X, she denied any wrongdoing, saying plans to tarnish her reputation will fail.
“Integrity and accountability are our watchwords! Under my watch in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, no one will embezzle government funds as before,” she wrote.
“The plans to tarnish the image of this administration, my person or the ministry will amount to nothing.”

Groups Ask Minister to Resign

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked Edu, to resign from office for transferring of public funds of over N585 million to a private account, describing the action as fraudulent.
According to the rights group, the minister should resign or excuse herself from office, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

HURIWA pointed out that the Public Sector Financial Regulations of 2009 prohibits the payment of public funds to the account of private individuals, adding that Section 713 of the law 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 bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who signed the statement, called on President Bola Tinubu and the EFCC to use a universal yardstick in the enforcement of the anti-graft laws, arguing that certain individuals should not be exempted by the laws because they are senior national figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

On its part, the Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), has called for an investigation into the letter written by Edu, requesting the AGF to pay public funds into a private account.
NEFGAD in a statement signed by its Head of Office, Mr. Akingunola Omoniyi, urged President Tinubu to be impartial during the investigation and ensure that if found guilty, disciplinary action be meted on the minister, adding that the ‘massive corruption’ should not go unpunished.
Akingunola urged the president to direct the suspension of the minister for a thorough investigation by relevant anti-corruption agencies with immediate effect.
Akingunola noted that apart from the fact that Edu and the sacked CEO of NSIP, Mrs. Halima Shehu, are from different geographical divides of the country, the tendency and pattern of the allegations involving the duo are too identical and should not have attracted different approaches and measures in dealing with them by the president.