In the latest development surrounding the scandal in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confiscated the passports of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq.
This action comes as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged financial improprieties within the ministry.
The controversy surrounding Edu unfolded after a leaked memo exposed her directive to transfer N585 million to a private account, allegedly intended for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
Despite her denial and insistence on the legitimacy of the transaction, Bola Tinubu suspended Edu on Monday, instructing her to hand over responsibilities to the permanent secretary.
Edu, who honored an EFCC invitation on Tuesday, underwent extensive questioning during which her personal and official passports were seized, preventing her from leaving the country. Similarly, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, faced a 12-hour interrogation concerning the alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure.
As part of her bail conditions, Umar-Farouq’s passport was also confiscated.
An anonymous source from the EFCC told Punch, “The commission has seized the passports of the two ministers, Sadiya Shehu and Betta Edu. We have also seized Mrs Halima Shehu’s passport pending the conclusion of investigations. The commission does not want to risk having any of them leave the country while they still have questions to answer.”