A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiatives (EUYI) has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to make public the case of corruption against the sacked Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction Affairs, Dr Beta Edu.
Edu was suspended for an alleged diversion of more than 585 million naira ($640,000; £500,000) and more public money paid into a personal bank account.
The groups under the Convener, Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Kennedy Tabuko and Co-Convener, Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiatives (EUYI), Danesi Momoh, yesterday at a press conference in Abuja, decried her public appearances around the presidency, particularly with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in recent times.
The coalition said it has been brought to its attention how the sacked minister lobbyists her way through to appear and attend so many serious government programmes, both at state and federal levels.
“This has to stop as of now,” it said. “This one act alone is rebranding the country as a corrupt country and no consequence for bad acts.
Tabuko, who spoke for the coalition, said it was very unfortunate that Nigeria is fast becoming a nation of no justice and no consequence for wrong actions by public officials.
“We see that abnormality is fast becoming normal and our norms and all that we hold dear are gradually giving way to mediocrity,” he added.
“For Beta Edu specifically, it feels not like a relaunch, but a comeback in a very serious sense, you not minding whose ox is gored.
“Most disgusting, Beta is seen moving freely and intimately without any iota of shame around the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, whom we all thought should fight aggressively and hate corruption in whatever way or form it appears, given her background as a pastor of one of the most renowned churches in the world.
“The EFCC has shamelessly refused to feed the Nigerian people with the findings of all corruption cases levelled against Beta Edu but will go all out to arrest and parade other citizens who commit less crimes, because they have no body to speak for them.
“Our curiosity is not only about Beta Edu but many more that we thought EFCC and ICPC should have brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We need to remind the president and the first lady that body language matters. “If Mrs Tinubu can be seen at a public function with a sacked government appointee who is still facing corruption charges, then it speaks volumes and tells the public perception of the current administration.
The coalition said it considered it imperative for the APC-led government to know that Edu’s public appearance in the political arena was not only a big shame and projects APC as a party that encourages corruption but would also bring about gross disrepute to the entire country, the giant of Africa.
“We wonder how a minister who was sacked, accused of corruption, gross misconduct and under investigation will summon so much courage to follow the president for an international assignment. What a pity!”
The coalition asked the EFCC to do justice to Edu’s case and gave a 5-day ultimatum before it would take pr the streets.
“We insist that as long as the case of Beta Edu is not determined and EFCC does not publish the corruption cases against the sacked minister, it will be a bad public image for the government and our dear nation to see Beta Edu around the corridors of power. The President and First Lady should take note of this.
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