From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) given that it has lately become a cesspool of corruption.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday
Rev. Ugolor acknowledges and commends the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Minister Betta Edu in response to serious allegations of corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
According to him, as an organization dedicated to advocating for transparency and accountability, ANEEJ stands firm in its belief that every misappropriated fund intended for the welfare of the impoverished must be recovered and returned.
Rev. David Ugolor said “This investigation should be comprehensive and should cover the allegations against the immediate past Minister, Sadia Umar-Farouk, and the suspended Head and National Coordinator of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Hajia Halima Shehu. It should not only focus on the beneficiaries of the sleaze, but also scrutinize the involved companies, showcasing the government’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption and upholding the beneficial ownership policy in Nigeria.”
Ugolor further highlights the urgency for President Tinubu’s administration to reinforce action in implementing the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles. The lack of transparency and accountability within the management of social investments under Mrs Betta Edu’s tenure and her predecessor in office underscores the necessity for immediate action.
“In conjunction with anti-corruption efforts to unearth the fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, ANEEJ, alongside our anti-corruption partners, through the Scale Project supported by Palladium and USAID, will initiate Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to launch a People’s Tribunal,” states Ugolor. This move aims to exert significant pressure on the government, discouraging impunity and ensuring swift justice.
Rev David Ugolor asserts, “Crime must not pay, and the Tinubu government must prioritize the fight against corruption as a fundamental agenda of his regime.”
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