BETTA EDU’S PASSPORT IS SEIZED BY THE EFCC, AND SENIOR BANK OFFICIALS ARE BEING QUESTIONED.

Babatunji Wusu –

The passports of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and Sadiya Umar-Farouq, her predecessor, have been confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday at 10 a.m., Edu appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja and was interrogated for several hours.

The suspended minister was reportedly questioned by the EFCC on the N44 billion scam that was discovered within the ministry.

Investigators questioned Umar-Farouq, her predecessor, for twelve hours on Monday as part of their investigation into the N37.1 billion that was purportedly laundered during her term in office through the contractor James Okwete.

According to an EFCC source who talked with The Punch, Edu and the former minister’s passports were confiscated in order to prevent them from leaving the nation while the investigation is ongoing.

“The commission has seized the passports of the two ministers, Sadiya Shehu and Betta Edu. We have also seized Mrs Halima Shehu’s passport pending the conclusion of investigations. The commission does not want to risk having any of them leave the country while they still,” the source said

It was also learnt that managing directors of three commercial banks were also questioned on Tuesday over the fraud.

The source also confirmed the invitation of the bank MDs

The source revealed, “The MDs of the banks were grilled by our interrogators at the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday. They were invited and are being probed in connection with the uncovered N44bn fraud and the N585m involving Halima Shehu and Betta Edu.

“The suspended minister and the coordinator have both given new revelations during their interrogations, and the investigation is still ongoing.’’