The Accountant-General was questioned by the EFCC for a duration of six hours regarding a fraudulent act of N585 million in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under Betta Edu.

Story by: Iyiola Ayomide

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, was questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding his suspected involvement in a fraudulent scheme worth N585.2 million in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. 

The suspended Minister, Betta Edu, has been accused of being connected to this alleged fraud. An EFCC source, who verified the situation, disclosed that Madein was questioned about the transfer of N585.2 million from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation's government funds into the personal bank account of a government official. 

 According to the source, the commission invited and questioned the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein. The source stated that she underwent an intense questioning for more than six hours on Monday. 

The investigation focused on the transfer of N585.2m from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, who serves as the accountant for the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. 

 "The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was not held in custody; rather, she was set free unconditionally subsequent to providing a written explanation to the interrogators. 

 Nevertheless, she informed the investigators that she did not authorize Minister Edu's memo requesting the funds to be transferred to a personal account."

 Keep in mind that previously disclosed information had exposed the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Edu, from December 2023, had asked the AGF to move funds from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups accountant in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola. However, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) contradicted Edu's statement, stating that funds were indeed allocated to independent Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as outlined in the budget. 

 These MDAs were then responsible for executing their respective projects and making payments for them.