The passports of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, have been confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of the ongoing investigation into scandals in the ministry.
According to a reliable source in the EFCC, the passports were seized to prevent the individuals from leaving the country while the investigation continues.
“The commission has seized the passports of the two former ministers, Sadiya Umar-Farouq and Betta Edu.
“We have also seized Mrs Halima Shehu’s passport pending the conclusion of investigations. The commission does not want to risk having any of them leave the country while they still have questions to answer,” he said.
Edu appeared at the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday morning to provide answers regarding alleged financial corruption within the ministry.
This action was taken following the circulation of a leaked memo that showed Edu requesting the payment of N585 million into a private account.
As a result of public outcry, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instructed a thorough probe and investigation into the minister.
On her part, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former Minister under then President Muhammadu Buhari, was also quizzed over alleged fraud committed under her watch.
The duo are being investigated for fraud amounting to over N40 billion.
In connection with the Edu and Sadiya Umar-Farouq’s investigation, EFCC summoned the Chief Executive Officers of Zenith, Providus and Jaiz banks to its office on Tuesday.
Halima Shehu, the suspended chief executive officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, is also under investigation by the EFCC.
