The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed significant progress in its investigation into the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and others involved.
Amidst the ongoing probe, N30 billion has been recovered for the Federal Government, with 50 bank accounts flagged for scrutiny.
Three months after the suspension of Edu and others, EFCC’s executive chairman, Ola Olukoyede, admitted the complexity of the case and urged patience from Nigerians.
According to Leadership, in the commission’s monthly e-magazine, EFCCAlert, Olukoyede stressed the need for thoroughness in the investigation process.
Olukoyede stated, “Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it.
“And we need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.
“As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal. Then you ask
about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on.”
It would be recalled that Edu was suspended by President Bola Tinubu after being caught in the web of scandalously plundering and diverting poverty alleviation funds to private accounts, an imbroglio that is now to be known as the “edugate.”
