Corruption will not be Tolerated —Concerned Citizen tells FG, EFCC
By: Edirin Robinson
A concerned citizen of Nigeria, Mukhtar has urged the Federal government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC,) to release the reports of their probe on the erstwhile Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, as a deterrent to others with the same plans.
In a statement signed by Mukhtar and made available to the media in Kaduna, today, he noted that over six months after the suspension of the Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to alleged corruption cases, embezzlement, and financial misappropriation, there has been no news on the result of the probe from the EFCC.
It would be recalled that earlier in January 2024, President Tinubu had sent a strong warning to corrupt cabinet members by suspending Betta Edu after a leaked memo showed that the former minister indulged in unwholesome financial dealings while steering the wheels of affairs at the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
According to Mukhtar, “It is disheartening that, for almost half a year since launching the investigation against Edu, both the federal government and EFCC have yet to make public, the report of the probe or arraign the suspended Minister before a court of competent jurisdiction to scrutinize the issue from the ambit of the law and order.”
“Fracas ensued among the citizens when Edu’s case of transferring a humongous sum of almost N585.2 million into a private bank account was brought to the limelight through a widely circulated memo emanating from the Ministry.”
“Following this development, the country’s finest anti-graft agency, the Economic Crimes and Financial Commission (EFCC) waded into the situation by launching a probe against the suspended Minister in an attempt to get to the bottom of the matter.”
“Not only Edu’s situation, a series of corruption cases have rocked the Ministry highlighting that, an institution created to provide relief to vulnerable citizens has now metamorphosed into a conduit pipe for siphoning the hard-earned tax-payers money.”
He also recalled the suspension of the social welfare program and the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, Halima Shehu, by President Tinubu over an alleged N37.1 billion fraud in the same ministry.
“Recently, the Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos ordered another former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management, and Social Development, Mrs. Sadia Umar-Farouk, to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in six months.
“The persistent question Nigerians are asking is: when will Edu’s case be treated and given deserved attention just like how other high-profile corruption cases are being treated?
“As the EFCC delays absolving or indicting the ex-minister, or making public its findings, there are suspicions that she may be let off the hook, despite the weight of allegations leveled against her, which led to her ouster in January. Rumors emanating from some quarters are even hinting that the suspended Minister is on the verge of making a dramatic return to her initial position!
“While speculations continued to emerge about her possible return which is being fueled by the EFCC’s muteness on the issue, the unfortunate situation became even more pervasive as the suspended Minister, Dr. Edu, yesterday, wrote an official condolence message on the ‘ministry’s letterhead’ over the recent Jos school building collapse where a lot of lives were lost.
“At this juncture, it is duty-bound for responsible citizens including this writer to begin questioning the legality of using official documents of the ministry [letterhead] by the suspended Minister in expressing her condolences. The authorities including the Presidency should quickly address this matter before it generates even more diverse hypotheses.
He, however, maintained that for the sake of Nigeria’s integrity and dignity, it has become pertinent for the EFCC and federal government to come out clean on the lingering issue by addressing the public on the release of the report.
“The public, stakeholders, and international observers are now calling on the authorities to promptly release the findings of the probe, emphasizing that transparency, accountability, and the principle of speedy justice dispensation are critical in this matter to restore public trust and deter future misconduct.
“The release of the report on Betta Edu’s probe will demonstrate the government’s commitment to openness and accountability. When public officials are accused of misconduct, investigative processes need to be transparent to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. Withholding the report could foster suspicion, erode public trust in institutions, and fuel speculations of a cover-up.
While noting that the essence of accountability is to ensure that public officials are held responsible for their actions as a key deterrent against corruption and abuse of power, Mukhtar stressed that “The EFCC, tasked with fighting economic and financial crimes, must uphold its mandate by ensuring that those found guilty of corruption face appropriate consequences.
He added “Ensuring that Edu is held accountable will reinforce the message that corruption will not be tolerated at any level of government and that nobody is above the law.
“In the case of Edu, releasing the probe report swiftly will enhance public confidence in the government’s ability to tackle corruption and also demonstrate a commitment to justice and reassure citizens that their leaders are accountable.
He added that given the serious nature of the allegations, it would be inappropriate for Betta Edu to return to her ministerial position, and allowing her to resume office without addressing the allegations would undermine the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption efforts as it would signal to the public that misconduct can be overlooked, thereby weakening the moral and ethical standards expected of public officials.
‘The principle of speedy justice is crucial in maintaining the rule of law. Delays in the judicial process can lead to the erosion of evidence, fading of public interest, and potential manipulation of the justice system.
He further stated, “The Nigerian government and EFCC must expedite the investigation and judicial proceedings related to Betta Edu to ensure timely justice as prolonged delays can undermine the credibility of the justice system and embolden other public officials to engage in corrupt practices, believing they can evade consequences.
“The message must be clear; corruption will not be tolerated, and those who engage in it will face the full force of the law. If the investigation reveals that Betta Edu engaged in corrupt practices, she must face appropriate punitive measures. Punishment serves not only to penalize the wrongdoer but also to set a precedent and deter others from similar misconduct,” the statement concludes.
