Npower: ₦30,000,000,000 Recovered By Anti-graft Agency Not Linked To Me - Betta Edu

According to Npower News, the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, says she has nothing to do with the ₦30,000,000,000 recovered by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On the 8th of January 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Betta Edu and directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction” involving Betta Edu's ministry.

The social investment programmes which includes Npower, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise And Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, were put on hold by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the suspension of Betta Edu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has since been investigating the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu and the ministry.

According to Npower News, In an update contained in a bulletin titled “EFCC Alert,” Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said it is also investigating fifty bank accounts, adding that the ₦30,000,000,000 recovered is in the custody of the federal government.

"We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption,” Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, was quoted as saying in the bulletin.

“Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over ₦30,000,000,000, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government.”

According to Npower News, in a letter issued on Wednesday, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, lawyer to Betta Edu, said: “Neither ₦30,000,000,000 nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceed of crime been traced or recovered from her…”

The letter addressed to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) offices in Abuja and London, also threatened to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), if the publication on the matter was not taken down on its website.

"First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting,” the letter reads.

“The reckless manner in which the article was crafted, without providing our client with the opportunity to respond to the allegations before its wide publication, is a clear breach of journalistic fairness and due process and demonstrates a complete disregard for journalistic integrity and professionalism. 

"This is a blatant attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation and undermine her credibility which she has earned over the course of her distinguished career in both private and public life.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our client has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any act of financial impropriety in relation to her stewardship of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in Nigeria.”

Chikaosolu Ojukwu, lawyer to Betta Edu, said Betta Edu the former minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has “suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article”.

The letter demanded a complete withdrawal of the article and an apology within 2 days.

Chikaosolu Ojukwu, lawyer to Betta Edu, said failure to comply with the demands, simply means legal actions would be taken before the appropriate courts.

Chikaosolu Ojukwu, lawyer to Betta Edu, said the actions would be “to obtain redress for the injurious falsehood peddled in your article and to seek punitive and exemplary damages in the sum of US$ 50 million against the BBC for the damage and injury suffered by our client”.

Source: https://www.thecable.ng/n30bn-recovered-by-efcc-not-linked-to-me-says-betta-edu/amp/

CISLAC/TI-Nigeria Commends EFCC For Recovering ₦30,000,000,000 From Betta Edu

According to Npower News, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) have commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its recent recovery of ₦30,000,000,000 from the investigation of the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

In a statement signed by Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, the organisation expressed its appreciation for the EFCC’s efforts in fighting corruption, particularly within government ministries tasked with uplifting Nigerians and beneficiaries of Npower out of poverty.

Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria highlighted the importance of the recovery, stressing the need to hold accountable those entrusted with public funds.

“It is highly commendable that the EFCC has taken action against corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which should be focused on alleviating poverty rather than being a breeding ground for embezzlement,” Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani stated.

Highlighting Nigeria’s alarming poverty statistics, with approximately 104,000,000 citizens living below the poverty line according to World Bank data, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria lamented the detrimental impact of corruption on the nation’s development.

Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria urged for intensified efforts to recover looted assets and punish those responsible, stressing the importance of treating corruption as a major impediment to progress.

“With poverty rates soaring and resources being misappropriated, it is imperative that the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies continue to pursue justice and ensure that looted funds are recovered and accounted for,” Auwal Musa Rafsanjani asserted.

The Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria called for the promotion of the rule of law and transparency in anti-corruption efforts, emphasizing the crucial role of accountability in combating corruption effectively.

“In reaffirming our support for the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), we urge these agencies to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in their operations.”

“Only by preventing, blocking and holding corrupt individuals accountable and ensuring proper management of recovered assets can we root out the scourge of corruption from our society,” Auwal Musa Rafsanjani stated.

CISLAC/TI-Nigeria urged all stakeholders to join hands in the fight against graft and to support the efforts of law enforcement agencies in upholding the rule of law and integrity in governance.

Source: https://www.tvcnews.tv/2024/04/cislac-ti-nigeria-applauds-efcc-for-recovering-n30bn-from-suspended-minister-betta-edu/

Npower News: Betta Edu Threatens To Sue British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

According to Npower News, the suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has threatened to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for alleged defamation of character.

In a letter signed by Betta Edu's counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Betta Edu demanded $50,000,000 compensation from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The letter, addressed to BBC’s Abuja and London offices, claimed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had reported false information regarding the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that ₦30,000,000,000 was recovered from the suspended minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

Chikaosolu Ojukwu stated that the concerned publication had caused immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish to Betta Edu.

“Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article,” the letter read.

The letter further criticized the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its article, stating that it suggested guilt on Betta Edu’s part without allowing for the presumption of innocence.

According to Npower News, the letter accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of breaching journalistic fairness and due process by not providing Betta Edu with an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publishing the article.

Parts of the letter read, “First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting.

“The reckless manner in which the article was crafted, without providing our client with the opportunity to respond to the allegations before its wide publication, is a clear breach of journalistic fairness and due process and demonstrates a complete disregard for journalistic integrity and professionalism.

"The headline, content, and tone of the article imply guilt on the part of our client, without any concrete evidence to substantiate such claims.

“This is a blatant attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation and undermine her credibility which she has earned over the course of her distinguished career in both private and public life.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our client has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any act of financial impropriety in relation to her stewardship of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in Nigeria.

"It is also pertinent to emphasize that neither ₦30,000,000,000 nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceeds of crime been traced or recovered from her to warrant the scurrilous article under reference.

“Suffice it to say that in the aftermath of the publication of this scandalous article (which the BBC caused to be disseminated to millions of persons across the globe), our client has been inundated by calls and messages from friends, associates expressing their shock and consternation.

“Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article.”

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/10/betta-edu-threatens-bbc-with-lawsuit-demands-50m-compensation/

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Laments Delays In Replacing Betta Edu

According to Npower News, The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday 9th April 2024, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of promoting anti-poor policies.

The accusation followed revelations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), exposing a scandal involving the misappropriation of ₦30,000,000,000, allegedly linked to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), in a statement by its national coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, disclosed that the functionality of the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, without a replacement for Betta Edu, has left millions of Nigerians including beneficiaries of Npower without access to essential government assistance.

This situation, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said, had been interpreted by HURIWA as a deliberate act of neglect towards the poor, further exacerbating the gaping socio-economic inequalities plaguing the nation.

“The EFCC’s bulletin detailing the recovery of ₦30,000,000,000, coupled with ongoing investigations into fifty bank accounts associated with the scandal, paints a grim picture of corruption within the government.

“HURIWA insists that Tinubu’s failure to appoint a suitable replacement for Betta Edu since her suspension in January 2024, reflected a disregard for the welfare of the poor, effectively rendering the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs defunct and exacerbating the suffering of those in need.”

“President Bola Tinubu, in January, suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, following widespread anger over an alleged ₦585,000,000 scandal.”

He added: “Edu’s suspension was happening as her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, was reportedly being grilled for about twelve hours by the EFCC detectives over the ongoing probe into the ₦37,100,000,000 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.

“Data from the Budget Office indicate that the ministry, erstwhile known as Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, had a ₦2,380,000,000,000 budget from 2020 to 2024”, HURIWA stated.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/huriwa-faults-delays-in-replacing-embattled-edu/