The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly questioned the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, in connection with an alleged N585.2 million fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Sources within the anti-graft agency disclosed that the EFCC also summoned several staff members from the Ministry as part of its investigation into the suspected fraud. The inquiry is believed to be linked to the suspended Minister, Betta Edu.
According to an insider, Madein faced extensive questioning at the EFCC’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, regarding the payment of N585.2 million in social intervention funds into a private bank account linked to a government official. During the interrogation, Madein reportedly denied approving the payment as requested by Minister Edu.
The alleged fraudulent activity came to light through a leaked memo, revealing that Edu had purportedly instructed Madein to transfer the funds from the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) account to a UBA account belonging to Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant responsible for Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry.
Despite the claims made in the memo, the AGF, in an official statement, contradicted the suspended minister’s assertion. Madein clarified that allocations were disbursed to self-accounting Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in accordance with the budget, and such entities were accountable for project implementation and associated payments.
While Madein was released after providing her written explanation during the interrogation, the EFCC detained some Ministry officials based on the extent of their alleged involvement in the fraud. The agency continues its probe, seeking to ascertain the level of complicity of those implicated.
The suspended Minister, Betta Edu, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on January 8, was previously subjected to over 10 hours of questioning by EFCC operatives in relation to the same alleged fraud. The funds in question, amounting to N585 million, were designated for grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Cross River, and Ogun states.
Furthermore, the Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, is also under investigation by the EFCC for her alleged involvement in a separate N44 billion fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
