The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has questioned the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, regarding an alleged involvement in a N585.2m fraud linked to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu.
Quest Times reports that Madein faced over six hours of interrogation at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, but was subsequently released without any conditions.
An insider from the anti-graft agency disclosed that “Madein was grilled over the payment of N585.2m from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
Moreover, Madein clarified during the interrogation that she did not approve the memo from Minister Edu for the payment into a private account, asserting her innocence.
This comes after a leaked memo exposed Edu’s request to transfer the funds in December 2023.
The AGF countered Edu’s claim, stating that allocations were released to self-accounting MDAs in accordance with the budget, and those MDAs were responsible for project implementation and associated payments.
Edu, previously grilled by EFCC, was suspended on January 8, accused of channeling humanitarian funds into a private account.
Meanwhile, Halima Shehu, the Co-ordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, is also under EFCC investigation for an alleged N44bn cash fraud.