President Bola Tinubu has initiated a thorough investigation into the payment of N585 million into a private account following a request by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
The revelation came through a leaked memo in which Edu instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to make the payment to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
The AGF has denied executing the instruction, emphasizing that due process was followed in handling the request.
However, the leaked memo has stirred public outrage, leading to President Tinubu’s intervention.
In a statement released by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday, it was disclosed that the President is committed to transparency and accountability in government dealings.
The statement reads, “The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.
“In light of recent events, the president has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.
“The public is advised to note, against the backdrop of various unverified narratives circulating on the Internet, that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under the leadership of Minister Mohammed Idris, is the primary source for verified information about events and actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation assured Nigerians that timely information would be provided as the investigation progresses