Following the N585.2 million corruption scandal linked to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has said the agency was established to cripple Nigeria’s economy.
Giwa described the Ministry as “a tool for money laundering”.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari created the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on August 21, 2019.
Its goal is to develop humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of national and international humanitarian interventions.
Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who served as minister under former Buhari, is alleged to have been involved in N37.1 billion fraud during her tenure in office.
However, Edu has described the N585.2 million fraud allegation against her as baseless and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her Ministry’s effort in fighting corruption.
The minister came under heavy criticism on Friday after a memo surfaced where she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585.2 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the Ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
But, addressing his members in Akure on Sunday, Giwa said: “Just a few months under this government, we have been reading newspapers on certain politicians involved in corruption scandals.
“Anyway, I don’t expect anything new to happen under this government rather than what Nigerians had witnessed in the past.
“Does the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation exist in Nigeria? I don’t think so.
“There are some ministries that are created to serve the purpose of the politicians. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is one of them.
“Anybody who serves under the agency does not care for the citizens but obeys and takes good care of their masters.”
N585.2m scandal: Humanitarian Affairs Ministry created to launder money – Pastor Giwa