According to a leaked internal memo dated November 6, 2023, the minister has given approval for a total sum of N72,374,500.
The memo, titled “The Disbursement Under the 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programmes in Kogi State, 2023,” was issued by the national programme manager and has since gone viral.
The approved amount is intended for the minister’s “advanced team” to travel by air for an unspecified “event” in Kogi State, despite the fact that the state does not have an airport.
Each member of the minister’s team, including aides, received N200,000 for flight tickets, N20,000 for airport taxi, and additional funds for local expenses and DTA based on their grade level, resulting in a total of N72,374,500.
Furthermore, the memo also allocated N300,000 for the minister’s own air ticket to the North Central State.
This recent development is part of a series of controversies surrounding the minister. The minister is currently being investigated following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It should be noted that Edu has faced criticism after a memo was leaked in which she requested the transfer of N585 million to a private account. This instruction was detailed in a letter dated December 20, 2023.
In the letter signed by the minister and titled “Mandate for Payment of Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun States, Respectively,” Edu requested the accountant-general to transfer the aforementioned sum to the UBA account of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.
