N585m saga: AGF denies sanctioning Edu’s payment request

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has rejected claims that she honourred the reported N585.198 million payment request by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,  Dr. Betty Edu.

The minister in the eye of the storm had requested that the said money be sent to the personal account of one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Dr. 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.

Reacting to the payment which has generated reactions across the country, Dr. Madein, in a statement by the Director of Press, Mr. Bawa Mokwa of the OAGF, in Abuja on Saturday, said her office did not carry out the payment but received the said request from the Ministry.

The AGF noted that payments are usually processed by the affected Ministries as self-accounting entities and no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of Project Accountant.

She stressed that the Ministry was only advised on the needed steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment process.

In the handling of public finances, Dr. Madein reaffirmed her commitment to upholding the values of accountability and transparency.

She urged MDAs to constantly make sure the necessary procedures are followed when carrying out financial transactions.