Probe deeper into charges of corruption against Halima, Edu – Delta PDP chieftain urges EFCC

A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to delve further into the accusations of corruption made against the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

He stated that if proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction, the two ought to face legal action in order to serve as a warning to others.

“There are more questions than answers on this matter. All eyes are now on the EFCC to undertake a thorough investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to boost public confidence in the scheme that has received more complaints than commendations,” he said.

Men are thought to be more naturally inclined to corruption than women, according to Onuesoke, who clarified that current events have demonstrated that women are not as innocent as people think.

“In just one week, two women of substance have been de-robed of their toga of piety for allegedly fiddling with a staggering sum of money belonging to the public. The National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator, Halima Shehu, is accused of laundering ₦44 billion, while Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, is implicated in an alleged attempt to transfer over N585 million to a private account, the speaker continued.

He claimed that in order to prevent the embezzlement of public monies, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration must properly monitor its officials if it wants to combat corruption.

He emphasised that his government is encouraging corruption and fostering anarchy in society if it does not select, veto, and punish its dishonest personnel.

Onuesoke asserts, “The government ought to hang them out to dry and send a proper message that those who were implicated in corruption during the previous administration, as well as those in the current administration, would be punished in accordance with our legal system.” Otherwise, a selective justice strategy will rob the government of the trust that its constituents hold in it, as well as the highly desired trust of investors.

Recall that Betta Edu was named in a number of fraud accusations involving the minister and her ministry, including the purported attempt to transfer more than N585 million to a private account. Halima Shehu, the head of NSIPA, was also accused of laundering N44 billion.