ABUJA, Nigeria – In a twist of events surrounding the investigation of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has issued a statement aiming to correct widespread misinformation.
This clarification comes after reports erroneously associated Edu with the alleged misappropriation of N30 billion in public funds.
A document titled “EFCC Alert,” distributed to media organisations on Monday, April 8, 2024, suggested a significant recovery of funds under Edu’s watch.
However, Edu’s office swiftly responded, disputing these claims and highlighting the EFCC’s efforts to set the record straight.
Rasheed Olarenwaju, Special Adviser on Media to Edu, conveyed that the EFCC had clarified Edu is not under investigation for the misappropriation of N30 billion.
Instead, the focus of the inquiry involves a significantly lower amount of N587 million.
The statement emphasised the need to distinguish between Edu’s case and another investigation involving Halima Shehu, who is scrutinised for misusing N44.8 billion without proper authorisation.
The misinformation, as outlined by an EFCC investigator identified only as Mr. Adamu, notably included references to outdated news reports that failed to accurately portray the current status of the investigations.
Adamu’s remarks aimed to separate fact from fiction amid what appears to be a targeted media campaign against Edu.
In their statement, Edu’s office underscored the importance of transparency and accuracy, especially when dealing with public figures.
It criticised the rapid spread of misinformation across social media platforms and stressed the EFCC’s commitment to the rule of law and operational transparency.
