President Bola Tinubu has appointed two women, Ngozi Olejeme and Betta Edu, battling unresolved corruption scandals, as 2027 campaign council members for his re-election. 

While Ms Olejeme is facing trial for N1billion fraud, Ms Edu is under investigation for diversion of N585 million into private account, a development that led to her sack in 2024.

Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Saturday, announced the appointments, highlighting the names and roles the appointees would play in Mr Tinubu’s re-election.

“James Abiodun Faleke, who played a pivotal role in the 2022/2023 campaign, has returned as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring. Faleke will work with zonal directors, with Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South-West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme in the South-South,” the statement said. 

The list detailing names and roles assigned everyone appointed into the council published alongside the statement shows that Mrs Olejeme, a former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund board chair, facing trial for N1billion fraud, will serve as zonal director election planning and coordination in the South-South geopolitical region. 

In October 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Ms Olejeme, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama Division, Abuja on eight charges bordering on alleged conversion, transfer, procurement, and possession of proceeds of unlawful activity amounting to N1 billion. 

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on July 1, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of 48 choice property belonging to Ms Olejeme. The first interim forfeiture order was in 2018. 

The list also showed that Mr Tinubu also appointed as a council member a former minister of humanitarian affairs, Ms Edu, suspended and replaced from the cabinet over public outcry and allegations bordering on transfer of public fund, N585 million, into a private account.

Though Ms Edu’s name was not mentioned in the statement circulated by Mr Onanuga, her name appeared on the list attached with the statement.

Ms Edu was appointed “director of women mobilisation” for Mr Tinubu re-election, while the EFCC said it was still investigating her matter almost three years after her suspension. 

Contacted for update on Ms Edu’s case, spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, told the People Gazette, “I cannot give you a one word answer. But the thing I can say concerning her matter is that investigations are still ongoing.”

The anti-graft agency spokesperson added, “You see, criminal investigation takes time. We have said it before that investigations are ongoing. We are not going to say more than that. We are still working on her matter. When we have anything to share with the public on her matter, we will let the public know.”