In a startling revelation, leaked internal memos expose the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, approving exorbitant funds for flight tickets and airport taxis for her ministry’s staff headed to Kogi State.
NN News Media gathered that the Minister Betta Edu, who is facing public outrage as leaked memos dated November 6, 2023, reveal her approval of funds totaling N72,374,500 for flight tickets and airport taxis for her staff’s travel to Kogi State, despite the absence of an airport in the region. The questionable expenditure adds to a series of controversies surrounding Edu, who is already under investigation for a previous directive involving the transfer of N585 million to a private account.
Titled “The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023,” the memo, approved by the minister, allocates a staggering N72,374,500 for the minister’s “advanced team” to travel by air for an unspecified “event” in Kogi State, despite the state lacking an airport.
Within the memo, each member of the minister’s entourage, including aides, is granted N200,000 for flight tickets, N20,000 for airport taxis, and additional funds for local running expenses and DTA based on their grade levels, resulting in the hefty sum.
Further scrutiny reveals an additional N300,000 earmarked for the minister’s air ticket to the North Central State, sparking concerns over the extravagant use of taxpayer money.
This development marks the latest controversy surrounding Minister Betta Edu, who is now under investigation following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Previous scrutiny arose when a memo surfaced, indicating Edu’s request for the transfer of N585 million to a private account, as detailed in a leaked letter dated December 20, 2023, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein. Titled “Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States Respectively,” the letter instructed the transfer to the UBA account of Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, intensifying concerns over financial transparency and accountability in the minister’s office.
