Betta Edu Warns Against Media Speculation Amidst Corruption Probe

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has issued a stern warning to both the media and Nigerians against linking her to any recovered funds amidst an ongoing corruption probe.

Ms Edu conveyed this message through a letter addressed to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday, represented by Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a principal partner at Ojukwu Chikaosolu and CO Law Firm.

In the letter, she emphasised that any such claims would be legally pursued as defamatory and libellous, stressing the importance of retracting any published stories that portray her in a negative light.

Her lawyer reiterated that Ms Edu has not been indicted nor found guilty of any financial impropriety during her tenure at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria.

Furthermore, he clarified that no proceeds of crime have been traced to or recovered from her bank accounts.

The letter read, “We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent article published by the BBC on its website titled: “Betta Edu Probe: Nigeria Recover $24m in Poverty Minister Investigation- EFCC” with the byline “Nigeria has recovered 30bn naira ($24m; £19m) as part of an ongoing corruption probe into a suspended minister, the financial watchdog says.”

“The aforesaid article, which presents information purporting to relate to an ongoing corruption probe into the activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, is replete with innuendoes and insinuations which suggest that N30bn has been recovered in the course of the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from our client and that the 50 bank accounts connected with the recovered sums are linked to our client.

“Furthermore, your article proceeds to cast aspersion on our client by referencing her earlier suspension (to allow for unfettered investigations) in the following terms: ‘Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu was initially suspended in January over the alleged diversion of $640,000 of public money into a personal bank account’.

The letter specifically demanded the immediate removal of the BBC’s article titled “Betta Edu Probe: Nigeria Recovers $24m in Poverty Minister Investigation – EFCC” from their website. 

It highlighted the damaging implications of the article, which insinuated a connection between recovered funds and Ms Edu, and threatened legal action if the BBC failed to retract the story within 48 hours.

BBC Response

This reporter reached out to the BBC via email for a comment on the content of the letter. The spokesperson for the BBC stated, “We have received this letter and are looking into it.”

Background

Ms Edu’s suspension stemmed from allegations of transferring government funds amounting to N585.2 million into a private bank account, which allegedly violated financial regulations. 

Although she has been released on bail pending further investigation by the EFCC, the incident has sparked public outcry and calls for transparency.