‘Mischief-makers behind circulation of memo’ — Betta Edu’s aide speaks on transfer of N858m to private account
Rasheed Zubair, media aide to Betta Edu, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, says there’s an try to smear his principal’s title with the leaked memo instructing transfer of N585 million.
Zubair is reacting to a leaked letter through which Edu requested Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, accountant-general of the federation, to transfer N585 million to the financial institution account of a person.
In the letter, Edu instructed the accountant-general to transfer N585,189,500 to the UBA account of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
The minister stated the funds are meant to be grants for “vulnerable groups”.
However, Zubair stated there was strikes by some people to discredit the minister.
“It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity because she alerted the Federal Government to the ongoing N44.8 billion fraud in NSIPA,” he stated in a press release on Friday.
“These parts have been making an attempt to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this newest misadventure.
“However, this newest vile effort of theirs is one other childish blackmail doomed for evisceration.
“For the avoidance of doubts, the stated N585,198,500.00 was accredited, and it’s meant for the implementation of Grants to susceptible teams in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
“We should, nevertheless, be aware that GVG was first launched in Kogi state the place recipients testified.
“Akwa Ibom and Cross River have been launched in December 2023, Kogi already occurred in November, and others will likely be launched within the coming weeks.
“The basic public is invited to be aware that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal authorities, which is being applied by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it’s Legal in civil service for a employees, the Project accountant to be paid and use the identical funds legally and retire the identical with all receipts and proof after undertaking or Program is accomplished.
“The evil motive of the mischief-makers behind the circulation of the memo is well-known and should be ignored.”
Zubair stated the minister is working to be certain that she delivers on her mandate.
