EFCC seizes Edu, Umar-Farouq’s travel documents amid financial misconduct allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken custody of the travel documents belonging to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Betta Edu, and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq.

The two ministers are currently under investigation for various alleged financial misconducts during their respective tenures.

The EFCC has also reportedly confiscated the passport of Halima Shehu, former National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA), who is facing allegations of embezzling N44.8 billion. The commission claims to have recovered N39.8 billion of the embezzled funds.

On Tuesday, Betta Edu underwent extensive questioning by anti-graft investigators at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, lasting over 10 hours.

The 37-year-old minister faced inquiries related to an alleged N585 million disbursement fraud. Although released on bail, Edu is required to report to the EFCC office daily.

The suspension of Betta Edu by President Bola Tinubu came on the heels of a N585 million disbursement scandal involving the humanitarian affairs ministry. The President also instructed the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to conduct a thorough investigation into financial transactions within the ministry.

Betta Edu, a former Cross River State Commissioner for Health and the National Women Leader of the APC, was a key figure in Tinubu’s campaign during the election that brought him into office as President. Her ministerial appointment lasted a mere six months, making it one of the shortest tenures in recent history.

Meanwhile, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Edu’s predecessor, faced a second consecutive day of questioning by the EFCC on Tuesday.

She is being probed for an alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her ministerial tenure.

After an extensive interrogation, Umar-Farouq was allowed to leave but is expected to return for further clarifications on flagged issues from the preliminary investigations.