Folarin Kehinde

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, has taken charge of the affairs of the Ministry following the suspension of the minister, Betta Edu.

This development is in line with the directive issued by President Bola Tinubu, who suspended Edu on Monday over her alleged involvement in a N585 million fraud.

The minister has been accused of paying public funds into private accounts.

Leading Reporters gathered that Enitan assumed responsibility of the Ministry after a letter to that effect from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was given to him Monday night.

It would be recall that Tinubu, through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had ordered the suspended minister to “hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation”.

“She is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.

“Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.

“With a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative,” Ngelale had said in a statement.

A new report has revealed how a conflict between Betta Edu and Halima Shehu within Nigeria’s Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry brought to light alleged fraudulent activities.

According to insider sources, the recent suspension of Shehu, the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) CEO, over allegations of siphoning a substantial N40 billion from the agency’s funds, kickstarted controversy.

The rift was said to be a power struggle between Minister Edu and Shehu due to disagreements over operational control and financial oversight.

Sources revealed that Edu, suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, made unauthorized withdrawals from NSIPA’s accounts without Shehu’s consent, leading to a breakdown in their working relationship.

In response, Shehu purportedly took drastic measures by relocating the remaining funds from accounts accessible to Edu to those under her control.

She reportedly disclosed the actions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when the anti-graft commission was probing her.

“Typically, the minister is a signatory to the NSIPA account, but she makes withdrawals without letting the NSIPA head know,” the source said.

“Shehu got angry over that, and the only way she thought she could still retain control over her agency was to transfer the remaining balance out of the accounts that Edu had access to.

“She has disclosed to the EFCC the three accounts where she moved the money to,” a source told The Cable.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has announced that the soldier who insulted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on social media has been arrested.

Lagbaja disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Enugu state.

Recall that a young soldier, allegedly riding a motorcycle against traffic regulations in Lagos, was apprehended by security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy.

The video triggered angry reactions from some military personnel on social media.

In a video shared on X by one of Sanwo-Olu’s media aides, Wale Ajetunmobi, the COAS said all other videos where insults were hurled at the governor were not from Army personnel.

Expressing deep concern and disapproval, Lt. General Lagbaja emphasized the military’s commitment to upholding discipline and respect for civil authorities.

He stressed that such behaviour contradicts the values and professionalism expected of the Nigerian Army.

The Chief of Army Staff assured that the soldier involved in the incident had been apprehended and would face appropriate disciplinary measures in line with military regulations.

He reiterated the military’s stance on maintaining cordial and respectful relations with civilian authorities.

His words: “I want to say that the soldier that was apprehended by the governor of Lagos state for plying one way does not represent the Nigerian Army.

“Because, in every respect, he contravened what we stand for, which is discipline as an Army, and it contravenes the constitution and the laws of Lagos. So, we frown at that as an Army.

“But for what you alleged that soldiers have gone to social media casting aspersions on the person and the office of the governor, it is only one soldier that has done that. The Army has investigated, that soldier has been apprehended and we are investigating.

“For every comical act that you have seen on social media, they are not personnel of the Nigerian Army.”

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) intends to clear outstanding payment owed to its Front-End Partners(FEPs) for a period of 2 years within the first quarter of 2024.

The New Director General of the Commission, Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote who gave this assurance in a statement issued in Abuja also expressed her sympathy with the FEPs who have been burdened with running their businesses for 2 years without payment.

She said: “The National Identity Management Commission, under my leadership has conducted a revalidation exercise to review the outstanding payments which the new management inherited with a view to offsetting the debt after going through due audit process to validate the claims made by the FEPs.

“In the process, we found out that some of the invoices submitted by the FEPs did not tally with the enrolment figures shown on the database thus prompting the revalidation exercise to confirm the true and accurate enrolment information.

“Notwithstanding, we are wrapping up the audit process, and the activation of the FEPs will be done according to the outcome of the validation exercise.

“We sympathise with our partners over the delay and appeal for understanding especially as the new NIMC management is just a few months in the saddle and had been working on resolving all inherited debts.

“Unfortunately, the previous management could not clear the outstanding dues because of lack of funds but we are working hard to source for the funds to clear the debt.

“I therefore use the opportunity to reiterate that the revalidation exercise was aimed at sanitizing the system as well as ensuring efficient and effective enrolment processes in line with international best practices of securing citizens’ data.”

The Commission assured concerned Nigerians that payment will be made to the Front-end Partners in the first quarter of 2024 and added that there are plans to hold a stakeholders engagement summit this month.

Suspended humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation minister Betta Edu says her hands are clean, and she is committed to fighting corruption amid uproar on her illegal request to wire funds into a private account.

Ms Edu made this statement in a Facebook post she addressed to Npower beneficiaries.

“Dear Npower Beneficiaries, I want to assure you all to remain calm and steadfast amidst the recent accusations and suspension I am facing. My heart and hands are clean, and I am committed to fighting corruption,” Ms Edu said.

She added, “It’s essential to be aware that some individuals with impure intentions may use government machinery against you. Stay strong, and together, we will navigate through these challenges.”

Her comments came after President Bola Tinubu suspended her for requesting the accountant-general of the federation wire N585 million into a private account, a fund meant for the public to alleviate poverty in some states.

Citing a leaked memo, Leading reporters reported how Ms Edu wrote the office of the accountant-general, demanding that N585 million earmarked to reduce poverty of vulnerable citizens in Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Lagos, and Ogun be paid into the UBA account — 2003682151— of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

Ms Edu admitted authoring the memo requesting that N585 million be paid into a private account but claimed that the allegation came from forces against her.

The accountant-general, Oluwatoyin Madein, said Ms Edu flouted financial regulations by requesting funds be wired into a private account.

“Mrs Madein explained that although her Office received the said request from the ministry, it did not carry out the payment. The (humanitarian) ministry was, however, advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.”

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Zenith, Providus, and Jaiz banks have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amid a sweeping investigation into an embezzlement scheme linked to former and current Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu and Sadiya Umar-Farouk, Politics Nigeria has gathered.

The affected CEOs are Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu (Zenith Bank), Haruna Musa (Jaiz Bank), and Walter Akpani (Providus Bank).

Multiple high-level sources within the Presidency, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrests on Tuesday.

These banking executives, long suspected of facilitating the improper diversion of public funds into private accounts, are now facing the music within the confines of EFCC custody.

The anti-graft agency is dissecting a web of suspicious transactions involving hefty sums of public money funnelled into private accounts, allegedly approved by Dr. Edu and Farouq leveraging their ministerial positions.

Ms. Farouq, who led the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, is additionally accused of mismanagement of N37 billion earmarked for the conditional cash transfer program during President Buhari’s tenure.

The sources revealed that a potential deliberate lapse in flagging suspicious activity by the banks – a crucial responsibility mandated by anti-financial crime laws and Central Bank directives – played a critical role in this brazen misappropriation of public funds.

Attempts to obtain comments from the detained CEOs’ respective banks on the matter did not yield immediate results.

President Bola Tinubu has slashed by 60 per cent the travel expenditure of government officials in his administration.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the decision was part of cost-cutting measures of the Presidency.

He said that the decision will affect the office of the President, Vice President, First Lady, Ministers and heads of agencies.

He said, “Tinubu has directed that all state entourages be drastically reduced. This is not a request. It is a directive. The office of the president and staff will be affected. VP, appointees are affected.

“By this directive, there will be a slashing of expenditure on official travel by 60 per cent.”

He said consequently the President is limited to 20 number of staff outside the country.

He also said every minister is limited to having just four members of staff on any foreign trip while heads of agencies are limited to just two.

Ngelale said Tinubu has also said that he will no longer travel with huge security delegations to any state in the country.

The presidential spokesman also added that if the president travels to any state, the security in the state will take care of his security and the same applies to the vice president and other top government officials.

Popular Christian television channel Emmanuel TV, owned by late Pastor TB Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, says it will no longer be broadcasting on MultiChoice platforms, DStv and GOtv.

The highly viewed religious TV channel, has also announced its departure from other pay-TV services.

MultiChoice confirmed that Emmanuel TV would no longer be available on DStv and GOtv packages starting from January 17th, 2024.

This development comes amid the three-part documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) detailing the alleged atrocities and sexual crimes committed by late TB. Joshua on his disciples.

The 3-part documentary revealed the clandestine lifestyle of the now-deceased founder of SCOAN. It detailed stories of abuse, harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles. Sources told the BBC that the church knew about all the allegations but never investigated them. They alleged the sexual crime spanned over two decades.

A part of the documentary revealed how SCOAN shielded its congregation from the truth about the collapse of one of the church’s guesthouses in 2014. A video that was shown multiple times to members on Emmanuel TV showed a short clip of the structure with something that seemed like an aircraft flying over it.

Emmanuel TV, founded by the late televangelist TB Joshua in Nigeria in 2006, gained popularity and expanded its reach through its YouTube channel, which became one of the most subscribed Christian ministry YouTube channels globally.

However, in April 2021, YouTube shut down the channel due to “gay curing” claims, as it violated policies against alleging mental illness, disease, or inferiority based on membership in a protected group, including sexual orientation.

The video titled ‘THE SPIRIT OF MAN IS TORMENTING YOU!!!’ | TB Joshua Personal Prophecy” was about Chetanna Nwabuwa a Nigerian living in Ghana who the church claimed was allegedly possessed by a strange spirit.

The channel, which had over 1.8 million subscribers and 600 million views before the suspension, was reportedly the most-watched Nigerian Christian ministry on YouTube.

Consequently, Emmanuel TV had to start over on YouTube, and Facebook also removed some of its posts for the same reasons.

Following TB Joshua’s passing in June 2021, Emmanuel TV has relied heavily on rebroadcasting old content and repeats of the late televangelist’s programs, producing less new content than the prolific scale during Joshua’s lifetime.

It was gathered that the new management at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, led by the wife of the late founder, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, is facing numerous challenges following the inability of the new management to step into the shoes of the late T.B. Joshua fully.

President Bola Tinubu has summoned the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to the Presidential Villa.

The summon follows the controversy that has hitched the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the award of a consultancy contract to the tune of N438 million, for the National Social Register to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company he is a beneficial owner.

Details shortly….

Bandits, on Sunday, attacked travellers on the Abuja–Kaduna highway and abducted over 30 people, witnesses and community leaders told the Daily Trust yesterday.

The abduction took place at Dogon-Fili near Katari, along the Kaduna- Abuja highway in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Findings by this newspaper revealed that the last reported incident on the road was on March 1, 2023 when 23 people were abducted.

A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani confirmed the attack on his X page, disclosing that two of his friends narrowly escaped being kidnapped by the bandits.

He also said that the bandits blocked the road and operated for some time even though there were more security operatives on the road than there used to be in the past.

Sani said two of his friends from both opposition and ruling parties who were returning to Abuja from Kaduna narrowly escaped during the bandits’ attack.

Sani said: “Just when we felt safer, last night (Sunday) kidnappers returned to the Kaduna-Abuja Road. They blocked the road and abducted scores of persons around 9pm near Katari village. Two of my honourable friends from both the ruling and opposition parties had to run through the bush like Usain Bolt. But despite this incident, there is a stronger security presence along the route than it used to be in the past.”

A resident of Katari, Suleiman Dan Baba, said the incident happened around 9:33pm when the bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, emerged from the bush and blocked the two lanes, adding that they operated for close to 45 minutes.

He also narrated that the bandits opened fire and deflated the tyres of some vehicles, which he said forced drivers, including commercial vehicles to stop.

“The bandits forced travellers to alight from their vehicles at gunpoint, before moving them into the bush,” the source said.

Another resident of Jere, Samaila Shehu, said the incident happened at a distance of about one kilometre away from Jere, and over 30 travellers were abducted at the scene.

Daily Trust learnt that the bandits, who divided themselves into two groups, also invaded Bishini and Kokore communities located along Abuja-Kaduna highway and also whisked away an unspecified number of villagers.

Shuaibu Adamu Jere, a community leader, also confirmed the incidents, stating that his relative escaped the attack near Dogon Fili, close to Katari town on Sunday. He said that a driver was injured, and two vehicles, a Sharon and another small car, were found empty by the roadside after the incident.

“Yes, the incident happened around 9:30pm, and the operation lasted about 45 minutes around Dogon Fili near Katari on Sunday. The driver of one of the vehicles was shot and left at the scene. One of my relatives escaped the attack,” he said.

He could not however specify the number of people abducted as the attack took place at night, but said the injured driver was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Another resident of Katari, a lawyer, who prefers not to be named, also confirmed that the highway was blocked on Sunday night as he was preparing to return to Kaduna.