The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently questioned the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, regarding her alleged involvement in a N585.2 million fraud linked to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu. The interrogation, which took place at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on Monday, lasted for over six hours. Madein, however, was released in the evening without any conditions.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Madein faced scrutiny concerning the transfer of N585.2 million from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Despite the leaked memo indicating a request from Minister Edu for the payment into a private account, Madein asserted that she did not approve the memo.
In a statement, the Accountant General countered Edu’s claim, stating that allocations were released to self-accounting MDAs in accordance with the budget, and these MDAs were responsible for implementing their projects and making corresponding payments.
Previously, Minister Edu had been interrogated by the EFCC for over 10 hours last week in connection with the alleged N585 million fraud. She was subsequently suspended by President Bola Tinubu on January 8, amid accusations of diverting humanitarian funds into a private account. Additionally, Halima Shehu, the Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, is under EFCC investigation for an alleged N44 billion cash fraud.
