Betta Edu saga: Peter Obi Says Everyone Responsible Needs To Be Held Accountable

Peter Obi

Peter Obi has said that all those culpable must be brought to book in the Betta Edu saga

According to Peter Obi, the Labour Party's (LP) presidential candidate for 2023, everyone responsible for the Betta Edu scandal needs to face consequences.

The federation's accountant-general, Oluwatoyin Madein, was asked in a leaked memo to move N585 million to a private account by Betta Edu, the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

President Bola Tinubu removed her from office on Monday and ordered an investigation into every financial transaction within her ministry.

The suspended minister was questioned on Tuesday at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja.

In a post on his official X page, Obi said that he welcomes Edu's suspension and demanded a thorough investigation.

He declared that it is, “insensitive for those entrusted with funds for public welfare to literally steal from the poor.”

“I like to add my voice with most Nigerians concerned about accountability in government and judicious use of public funds, I welcome the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Betta Edu, and subsequent directives for her investigation,” Obi wrote.

“While the action of the government is a welcome development, the investigation must be comprehensive so that all those culpable are brought to book.

“The suspension of the Minister should not be a window-dressing action but should be a peg to get at all those who are deserving of blame and punished just like the Minister.

“By a sad coincidence, the alleged fraudulent diversion of N585 million of public money by Ms. Edu broke almost at the same moment that the Minister who held the same portfolio in the last administration is being investigated for a whopping N37bn misappropriation.

“The Ministry may have been created by the system as a conduit pipe to siphon public funds while using the poor as a face.

“Equally worrisome and disgusting is the fact that the missing funds are meant for poverty alleviation in a time of severe suffering among the people.