N585m fraud: N30bn recovered by EFCC not mine – Betta Edu

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, has said the N30 billion recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, does not belong to her.

On January 8, President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu following allegation of N585.2 million fraud.

Tinubu also directed the EFCC “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction” involving her ministry.

But the anti-graft agency disclosed that N30 billion has been recovered, while over 50 accounts were being investigated.

In its bulletin titled “EFCC Alert,” the anti-graft commission said: “Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government.”

However, a letter issued on Wednesday by Edu’s lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, denied knowledge of the money recovered.

The letter reads: “Neither N30bn nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceed of crime been traced or recovered from her.

“First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting.”