CSOs accused EFCC of selective justice, deliberate silence over Dr. Betta Edu, issue 5-day ultimatum on ex-humanitarian minister

Two civil society coalitions have issued a five-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to make public its findings on corruption allegations against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, warning they would mobilize street protests if the anti-graft agency failed to act.

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups and the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiatives, who addressed journalists at a joint press conference on Thursday in Abuja, accused the EFCC of selective justice and deliberate silence over the case of the sacked minister, even as she continues to be seen frequenting government circles and appearing at official functions alongside President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

While Mrs Tinubu is the Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI, Dr. Betta Edu is its Director of Health and member of the RHI Governing Council who had recently represented the First Lady at several public events. 

The EFCC had in January this year said it was still investigating over 40 bank accounts and that it would not be stampeded into charging her to court only to lose the case on the grounds of failing to prosecute it diligently. 

“Until Betta Edu’s case is decided and the EFCC makes public the corruption cases against the sacked minister, it will constitute a bad public image for the government and our dear nation to see Beta Edu around the corridors of power.

“We will take to the street to demand within the confines of the law that the right thing be done”, they said. 

The Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Chief Kennedy Tabuko, and Danesi Momoh, Convener of the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiatives, condemned what they described as the brazen resurgence of a public official whose corruption case remains unresolved before the EFCC since 2024.

Edu was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following public outrage over allegations that she diverted more than N585 million from public funds into a personal bank account.

Despite her suspension and the pending investigation, the groups said Edu had been repeatedly sighted at government programmes at both state and federal levels, and had even gone on at least one international assignment — a development they described as an affront to public decency and a mockery of the country’s anti-corruption commitments.

The groups argued that the Presidency’s public association with Edu sends a damaging message about the administration’s posture towards graft.

“If Mrs Tinubu can be seen at a public function with a sacked government appointee who is still facing corruption charges, then it speaks volume and tells the public perception of the current administration,” they said.

They accused the EFCC of applying double standards, noting that the agency had moved swiftly to arrest and publicly parade ordinary Nigerians for lesser infractions while remaining conspicuously silent on high-profile cases involving politically connected individuals.

“Nigeria is fast becoming a nation of no justice and no consequence for wrong action taken by public officials. Abnormality is fast becoming normal while our norms and all that we hold dear are gradually giving way to mediocrity”, they argued. 

The groups called on President Tinubu to take personal responsibility for curtailing Edu’s public appearances, arguing that his body language on the matter was as consequential as any formal government statement.