The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, was on Monday denied access to see President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Shortly after her suspension, Betta was denied access to the president on Monday afternoon.
TVC disclosed this in a now-trending video shared on social media.
The clip showed the suspended minister’s vehicle being driven off.
According to the reports, Edu had tried to see President Tinubu after her suspension was approved but was denied access.
However, she was denied access.
Although a source said security detail and official vehicles, in which she rode to the Villa, were withdrawn, our correspondent could not confirm this.
But The PUNCH confirmed that her Villa Access Card was withdrawn.
A source in the Presidency who spoke on condition of anonymity said Edu had been trying to see the President without success since January 1, 2024, a day before news broke about the suspension of the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, on January 2, 2024.
The source said, “She was here (Villa) just before the statement was released. She has been trying to see the President since New Year day when he returned.
“The President is not happy about the whole thing. In fact, more may be coming because he will not tolerate anything like this.
“So, as soon as the statement came out, the cars that brought her were withdrawn immediately and they assigned two security men to see her out. Her tag was also collected.”
According to a video footage spotted on TVC News, Edu was ferried out of the admin foyer of the Villa in a black Toyota Hilux van belonging to State House security.
Another source said, “The SUV shown in the TVC footage was not for Edu but for a state governor who just arrived the premises. The car was simply turning to park somewhere. She was taken out of the Villa in the black Hilux.”
Edu’s suspension followed widespread criticism after a leaked memo on December 20 revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585m to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget.
The ministry had claimed that Oniyelu currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
JomogNews Nigeria reports that Tinubu ordered the suspension of Edu on Monday, January 8, and directed the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate allegations of financial irregularity involving the diversion of N585.189 million against her.
Watch the video of her driving off after she was denied access below:
