The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reaffirm his dedication to the fight against corruption by thoroughly investigating Humanitarian Minister Betta Edu’s alleged diversion of funds without bias. 

The call came after Ms Edu’s suspension following her request to the account-general of the federation to wire N585 million into a private account. The fund was for poverty alleviation in some states.

On Tuesday, Afenifere said given the recent revelations of the alleged corruption within the ministry under Ms Edu, it was important for the president to meticulously examine every aspect of its financial transactions to ensure accountability. 

In a statement by Kole Omololu, its organising secretary, the organisation said corruption would persist in the country if not dealt with by Mr Tinubu. 

“Given recent revelations regarding alleged corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, we urge the president to initiate a thorough investigation into these allegations. It is crucial to meticulously examine every aspect of the ministry’s financial transactions to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Additionally, we call for a comprehensive investigation into the financial transactions associated with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as a forensic audit of the ministry and the companies involved in the excessively inflated consultancy’s verification fees,” it said.

The organisation also stressed that all concerned parties in the scandal should be probed, noting that adopting “a zero-tolerance approach to corruption” was vital in achieving Mr Tinubu’s goals.

Afenifere emphasised the importance of investigating the allegations of corruption without any interference or bias by ensuring a fair and just process.

It urged Mr Tinubu to show his dedication to the growth and advancement of Nigeria in the fight against corruption. 

“The Nigerian people have entrusted President Tinubu with their confidence, and it is his responsibility to uphold that trust by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability,” Afenifere added.