Falana Calls For The Resignation Of The Minister In Charge Of Npower Dr. Betta Edu

According to Npower News, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Femi Falana, in a recent statement calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the ongoing investigation of the Minister in charge of Npower Dr Betta Edu and charge all offenders to court.

Mr Femi Falana described the situation as an “extremely embarrassing drama”, the circumstances surrounding Dr Betta Edu’s alleged involvement in the authorization of ₦585,189,500 to be transferred into a private account.

In a leaked memorandum allegedly endorsed by the minister in charge of Npower Dr Betta Edu allegedly directed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to pay the sum of ₦585,189,500 to the personal account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grant for vulnerable groups in four states.

According to Npower News, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said the minister in charge of Npower should stop abusing Nigerians, adding that the minister in charge of Npower, failed to deny that she authorized the funds to be transferred to a personal account instead of direct payment to the beneficiaries’ accounts from the ministry.

According to Channels TV, Femi Falana (SAN) said, “It is interesting to note that the minister has not denied that she gave approval for the payment of the over half a billion Naira to a private account in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.

"Instead of apologising to the Federal Government and people of Nigeria and calling it quits for betraying the confidence reposed in her, the Minister has arrogantly said that the ₦585,189,500 fraud allegation is a mere fabrication by her detractors and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to frustrate her ministry’s effort in tackling corruption and uplifting the poor and needy.

“However, notwithstanding that the Accountant-General of the Federation has successfully frustrated the criminal transfer of the said sum of ₦585,189,500 from public treasury, it is crystal clear from the leaked memo of the Minister that the offence of an attempt to commit a felony has already been completed.

“There can be no legal justification for the criminal transfer of the said sum of ₦585,189,500 for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people.”