The Presidency says it is investigating allegations that the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, approved N3 billion for verification of the national social register.
The development follows a leaked memo dated December 18, 2023, allegedly from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, indicating the approval of N3 billion to verify the national social register under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Although Gbajabiamila is yet to respond officially to the leaked memo, a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed that Tinubu approved the release of the N3 billion.
He stated that the President had given an extant directive to the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, for a total investigation into the financial misappropriation in the Humanitarian Ministry under the now-suspended Betta Edu.
“The President has directed the EFCC to investigate the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and all these matters are under investigation already.
“I am sure that the EFCC has seen that memo from the Office of the Chief of Staff and is doing something about these findings.
“Let us allow them to do their work. Let us not double investigate the same issue or engage in a media trial on an issue under investigation. Nigerians should exercise patience.
“When the EFCC is done with their findings, they will tender their report to the President, who will then act on the result of the investigation.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu over her alleged involvement in a N585 million fraud.
