The allegations against the minister were spurious and suspected to have been sponsored by some fifth columnists aimed at dragging her name into the ongoing investigations of NSIPA scandal.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has said refuted claims by the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajia Halima Shehu, that she was involved in the N3 billion corruption scandal rocking the agency.
In a statement signed by her spokesperson, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, titled “Re-Betta Edu Linked to N3bn NSIPA Fraud Scandal; Baseless Accusations Aimed at Diverting Anti-Graft Agency’s Focus,” the Minister said her alleged involvement was false and unfounded.
She accused ”fifth columnists” of a sole intent of tarnishing her ”well-earned reputation and integrity,” saying, “The allegations against the minister were spurious and suspected to have been sponsored by some fifth columnists aimed at dragging her name into the ongoing investigations of NSIPA scandal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Ordinarily, there is no substance in the said publication currently in some online media and does not deserve a response, but there is a need to set the record straight for Nigerians and followers of the current development in NSIPA under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to be properly informed.”
“For the records, all the programmes embarked (upon) by the ministry under the current Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, thus far, including Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) and others secured the approval of Mr President.”
