N585million Fraud: EFCC Concludes Probe Of Suspended Minister Betta Edu, Says Report Now With Tinubu
While speaking on Betta Edu, Uwajaren said, “I don’t know the outcome. But I believe that we have submitted a preliminary report to the president.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has noted that it has presented findings from its investigation of former Minister of Humanitarian Resources, Betta Edu to President Bola Tinubu.
The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, disclosed this while stating the achievements of the commission under current chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
While speaking on Betta Edu, Uwajaren said, “I don’t know the outcome. But I believe that we have submitted a preliminary report to the president. And I believe that we are still on the matter.”
Betta Edu was suspended after being alleged of transferring N585million meant for vulnerable groups into private bank accounts.
This is even as the commission said it was investigating some bank officials for various offences.
According to the anti-graft agency, about five bank executives are serving various jail terms at the custodial centres in the country.
The EFCC however failed to mention names of the bank executives under probe, even as it noted that the banking sector has not been overlooked in the last year.
He said, “It’s just for us to look back and realise that EFCC has never shifted focus from any sector. Between 2009 and 2011, at least five bank executives were investigated and served their jail terms. There are still some that are under investigation.”
“They are not politicians. Bank MDs are not immune to investigations or prosecution by the EFCC. We cannot mention names until those things are concluded. “
“The last time I checked, we mentioned the number of bank accounts that we were monitoring. We were looking at about 140 accounts. And we know it takes time to look into and get the required information.”
On the investigation of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky’s allegations, Uwujaren said Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC are false.
Bobrisky had in a voice note shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, who is also refered to VeryDarkMan, said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.
Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.
Providing an update, Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.
“There is a portion of the EFCC Act that states if you give false information, you can be tried, but in his case, it is an allegation against the agency. I don’t want to preempt the panel investigating the matter. Once we are through with the investigation, we will definitely brief you on the outcome,” Wilson noted.
