Sources: Real reasons Betta Edu fell out with Halima Shehu

There has been an avalanche of corruption allegations from the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation ministry, to the chagrin of millions of suffering Nigerians.

On January 2, it was reported that Halima Shehu had been suspended as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Almost immediately, Akindele Egbuwalo, the national N-Power programme manager, was named as her replacement in an acting capacity.

Shehu was accused of financial misconduct. She was specifically accused of diverting over N40 billion from the coffers of NSIPA.

Subsequently, a memo wherein Betta Edu, now suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, asked Oluwatoyin Madein, accountant-general of the federation, to transfer N585 million to a private account, began making the rounds, sparking outrage.

Rasheed Zubair, media aide to Edu, said the leaked memo was a blackmail tactic after the fraud in NSIPA had been exposed, adding that the embattled minister’s request followed “due process”.

Thereafter, President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu and ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the finances of the ministry.

But how did all of this begin?

THE RIFT

Before Halima Shehu was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as CEO of NSIPA, Delu Yakubu, now senior special assistant to the president on humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, was picked for the position.

But there were concerns among some senators and officials in the presidency that Yakubu would not be up to the task. She was then dropped and appointed a presidential aide.

Thereafter, Tinubu secured the confirmation of Shehu as NSIPA CEO in October.

An insider said Edu was looking to work with Yakubu because she was a lot more comfortable with her.

“The minister expected to work with Yakubu because she was comfortable with her but when Shehu found her way to the position somehow, Edu was not happy,” the source said.

“This did not create a harmonious working environment between both women from the outset.”

Another wedge between the minister and Shehu had to do with money, the insider said.

“Typically, the minister is a signatory to the NSIPA account but she makes withdrawals without letting the NSIPA head know,” the source said.

“Shehu got angry over that and the only way she thought she could still retain control over her agency was to transfer the remaining balance out of the accounts that Edu had access to.

“She has disclosed to the EFCC the three accounts where she moved the money to.”

Another insider said some staff in the office of the accountant-general of the federation (AGoF) were made signatories to these accounts, in a bid to ensure that the humanitarian ministry had access to funds when the need arose.

‘CONFUSION AT NSIPA’

Insiders said to this day, there has been no official communication from the presidency on who should be the acting CEO of the agency, creating even more confusion at NSIPA.

“Reports quoted sources on the suspension of Shehu and the naming of Akindele Egbuwalo, the national N-Power programme manager, to replace her in acting capacity. But there has been no official communication from the presidency on who should act,” one of the sources said.

“Like in the case of Betta Edu, we saw the presidential spokesman issue a statement and it was clear on who she should hand over to — that has not happened in this case.

“There are more officials superior to Egbuwalo who can act now that Shehu is no longer there.”