EFCC Seizes Travel Documents of Suspended Minister, Predecessor, and NSIPA Coordinator
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday seized the travel documents of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu and her predecessor Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq. The EFCC also impounded the international passport of the suspended National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) Halima Shehu.
The trio are being interrogated over allegations of financial crime levelled against them. The passport seizure was part of the conditions for granting them administrative bail. The travel papers are to be with the commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.
An EFCC source said: “We have asked all those under interrogation to submit their travelling documents. We have seized the passports of Betta, Sadiya, Halima and others.
“For Betta, who was grilled from 11 am till 6 pm, she was the last to be granted bail yesterday. We demanded their passports to restrict their movement, to enable them to be available for interrogation. They are all cooperating with us.”
Sources said the three managing directors of banks were quizzed over their suspected conspiracy. The banks were accused of refusal to raise “red flags” and gross involvement in suspicious transactions.
The banks were alleged to have violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amendment) 2023, especially Sections 5, 10, and 16(b).
The investigation is ongoing, and it is not yet clear when it will be concluded. The EFCC has not yet released any official statement on the matter.
This development is a major blow to the reputation of the Buhari administration, which has been struggling to crack down on corruption. It is also likely to fuel public anger over the perceived impunity of government officials.
It is important to note that the three women are all presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the allegations against them are serious, and the EFCC’s investigation is likely to continue for some time.
In conclusion, the EFCC’s seizure of the travel documents of Dr. Betta Edu, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and Halima Shehu is a significant development in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. It remains to be seen whether the EFCC will be able to secure convictions in this case, but it is clear that the agency is taking a serious approach to investigating allegations of financial crime.