The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, to its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sources confirmed that the invitation came less than 30 minutes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced Dr Edu’s immediate suspension from office.
Daily Trust said that an operative of the EFCC confirmed the development to its correspondent, stating that the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the immediate suspension of the Minister in order to pave way for the ongoing investigation that had been ordered by the President.
The source noted that the Commission had swung into action immediately the President ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged of payment of N585.189 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos States into a private account.
“Our investigation into the alleged payment won’t be thorough if we didn’t recommend the Minister’s suspension. Her suspension will give us liberty to do our job thoroughly as directed by the President.
“An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her. We expect her to honour the invitation to give proper insight into the issue at hand. So, we expect her to arrive here anytime soon,” the EFCC official told Daily Trust.
EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comment immediately as calls pulled across to his mobile phone were yet to connect.
Civil Society Organisations, activists lawyers, opposition political parties had called for her sack just as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told Daily Trust on Saturday that the matter was under investigation.