The Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) has noticed that the N44 billion Nationwide Social Funding Programme Company (NSIPA) fraud and the N585.2 million allegedly diverted to a personal account beneath the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is only a tip of the iceberg of “the unprecedented treasury looting, unbridled stealing and plundering of sources occurring within the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”
In an announcement issued on Sunday, the PDP famous that such looting and stealing have virtually introduced the nation’s financial system to its knees.
The get together additionally referred to as for the speedy sack and prosecution of the Minister, Betta Edu.
Signed by Debo Ologunagba, Nationwide Publicity Secretary, the assertion averred: “Is it not tragic and heartbreaking {that a} Minister entrusted with public funds to help thousands and thousands of poor Nigerians who’ve been impoverished by the APC, rotated to divert lots of of thousands and thousands of naira meant for the wellbeing of the poor?
“The persevering with keep of Betta Edu as Minister is due to this fact provocative and quantities to stealing from a individuals and daring them to do their worst. It additional confirms our Celebration’s place that the Tinubu-led APC authorities is a cesspit of corruption; a haven for thieves and treasury looters.
“Nigerians had been shocked by reviews of how Betta Edu and the suspended Nationwide Coordinator of NSIPA, Halima Shehu allegedly engaged in brazen looting of billions of Naira whereas Nigerians who the funds are meant for are disadvantaged and deserted to excruciating hardship and distress.
“Equally disheartening is the reviews of how Betta Edu allegedly directed the switch of the N585.2 million NSIPA cash into the personal account of one in all her fronts in clear violation of Chapter 7, Part 713 of Nigeria’s Monetary Rules, 2009 which expressly prohibits the fee of public cash into a personal account.
“For emphasis, Part 713 of Nigeria’s Monetary Rules, 2009 gives that ‘Private cash shall in no circumstances be paid right into a authorities checking account, nor shall any public cash be paid into a personal checking account. An officer who pays public cash into a personal account is deemed to have achieved so with a fraudulent intention.’
“The obvious fraudulent intention by Betta Edu in diverting public funds into a personal account; an motion which was appropriately declared unlawful by the Accountant Common of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, is in line with APC’s character and proclivity for plundering of public sources.
“The dearth of regret by the Minister particularly in her lame try to justify the unlawful diversion of funds meant for poor Nigerians can also be in line with the insensitivity, heartlessness, impunity and legal audacity inherent within the APC administration.
“A really disturbing info within the public area signifies that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is allegedly working with two outstanding APC officers within the Presidency and the Nationwide Meeting, who’re alleged to be utilizing Ministers and different officers of presidency to divert billions of naira to private accounts.
“Further info reveals that there are strikes to make use of the suspended Nationwide Coordinator of NSIPA, Halima Shehu as a scapegoat in order to comb the involvement of the Minister and the mentioned APC leaders beneath the carpet.
“What Nigerians demand of Nigeria President in the intervening time is to reveal dedication to the struggle towards corruption by instantly sacking Betta Edu, hand her over for investigation, prosecution and take steps to get better the stolen N44 billion and channel the fund recovered in the direction of the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
The PDP additionally demanded that the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) ought to instantly invite Edu for questioning and take additional steps to begin a system-wide investigation into the alleged large-scale corruption and treasury looting pervading in Ministries, Companies and Departments (MDAs) beneath the APC administration.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE