Betta Edu Investigation: Group gives EFCC ultimatum

The Committee for Transparency and Social Justice (CTSJ) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release a detailed update on its investigation into the multi-billion-naira corruption scandal involving suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, warning it will take legal and diplomatic steps locally and internationally if the demand is ignored.

In a petition to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, CTSJ called for the immediate prosecution of all individuals allegedly linked to the case, including Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whom it accused of corruption, nepotism, and abuse of office.

Edu was suspended in January 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after allegations that she diverted ₦585 million into a private account. EFCC investigators reportedly traced illicit transactions through more than 50 bank accounts and recovered about $24 million (₦30 billion).

CTSJ further alleged that New Planet Project Ltd, a company associated with Tunji-Ojo, received a ₦438.1 million consultancy contract from Edu’s ministry under the National Social Register project while he was a serving minister.

The group claimed that Tunji-Ojo’s wife, a federal civil servant, remains a director in the company in violation of public service rules.

Other allegations against the Interior Minister include forging academic credentials, engaging in nepotistic personnel postings, secretly recruiting allies into paramilitary agencies, and awarding contracts to political associates.

The group said leaving Tunji-Ojo in charge of the ministry responsible for Nigeria’s internal security was a national security risk, accusing the EFCC of showing “reluctance” to prosecute high-profile officials, a move it says undermines President Tinubu’s anti-corruption stance and Nigeria’s credibility abroad.

CTSJ’s demands include:

1. A public status report on the Betta Edu investigation.

2. Disclosure of the involvement of Tunji-Ojo and other implicated individuals.

3. Prosecution of all persons found culpable.

The group warned that failure to meet the deadline would trigger petitions to international partners, foreign governments, and funding agencies, urging them to impose visa bans on Edu, Tunji-Ojo, and EFCC Chairman Olukoyede.

“The Nigerian people deserve full accountability, and we will pursue all lawful means to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done,” the petition stated.

Copies of the petition have been sent to President Tinubu, the National Assembly, the National Security Adviser, Transparency International, and several foreign embassies and international agencies in Nigeria.