The Presidency says it is investigating accusations that the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, approved N3 billion for verification of the national social register.
This comes in response to a leaked document dated December 18, 2023, purportedly from the President’s Office of the Chief of Staff, which said that N3 billion had been approved to validate the national social register under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu authorised the N3 billion release, according to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, even though Gbajabiamila has not yet responded formally to the leaked document.
He said that the President has issued a direction to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct a thorough investigation of financial theft in the Humanitarian Ministry under the now-suspended Betta Edu.
According to him:
“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.”
cc: Daily Post Ng
