The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed on Sunday that the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Betta Edu, has officially been dismissed from her role.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Onanuga clarified Edu’s status.
“She was suspended in January, and this is October. She is gone, officially. Her position has been taken over by the Plateau man. As far as this government is concerned, there is no more place for her in this cabinet,” Onanuga stated.
He further suggested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might have provided information that contributed to Edu’s removal from office.
Following Edu’s dismissal, President Tinubu appointed Nentawe Yilwatda, a lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, as her replacement.
Yilwatda, who hails from Plateau State, was named alongside six others in a recent presidential letter sent to the Senate for confirmation.
This development comes after Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, a few months after taking office. Among his appointments, Heineken Lokpobiri was designated as Minister of State, Oil, and Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas, while Tinubu retained the senior petroleum minister role, similar to his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Edu, one of the original 48 ministers, was suspended in January 2024 following allegations involving the approval of N585,198,500.00, reportedly directed into a personal account.
In response to these allegations, President Tinubu instructed EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the ministry’s financial transactions and any related agencies.
