Following controversy over N585m payment request, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein has clarified that the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betty Edu actually asked office of the AGF to make payment of the said amount to personal account.
The AGF noted that the payment request considered to be illegal, her office did not honour the request.
According to her, it was not her responsibility to make payments for projects and programmes on behalf of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a statement on Saturday by the Director of Press, Bawa Mokwa of the OAGF, said.
While denying honouring the reported N585.198 million payment request by the minister, she added that Betty Edu’s request was contained in a letter referenced: FMHAPA/HQ/S.208 and dated December 20, 2023.
She explained that the payment was meant for grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos States.
Specifically, Madein said “the minister had asked the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay the said amount to the personal account of a certain Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola”.
“However, Betty Edu’s Ministry was advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure”.
