Pita Edo is Nigeria's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. She is now being investigated for corruption. More than NOK 265 million was found in her personal accounts.
Betta Edu was suspended in January. By then, local media had uncovered documents that allegedly showed Edo instructing a senior financial official to transfer public funds to a personal account. The amount found was 6.8 million Norwegian kroner.
At this point, Edo denied that she had done anything wrong. She said the money was for “implementation of grants for vulnerable groups.”
Subsequently, President Bola Tinubu wanted a thorough investigation of the minister.
Nigeria's Financial Crimes Investigation Agency (EFCC) has been investigating the situation for six weeks. They conclude that much needs to be investigated. The agency found money in more than 50 accounts. The amount exceeds 256 million Norwegian kroner, BBC writes.
– As it stands now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts where we have traced money. It's not a child's game, it's a big deal. This is what Ola Olokoyede writes in the agency’s monthly e-magazine, EFCC Alert.
Edo is the youngest minister in Tinubu's cabinet and is seen as a close ally of the president. She is also the first member of his cabinet to be suspended. Such a comment is unusual in Nigeria. Former President Muhammadu Buhari dismissed only two ministers during his eight-year term.
The EFCC boss says the recovered funds have been returned to the government.
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