Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP, disclosed this
in a statement on Sunday.
Betta Edu confirmed disbursing N585,189,500.00 meant for
vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states into a
private account.
However, Edu insisted that the payment followed due process.
Meanwhile, SERAP said that the minister’s action was against
Chapter 7, Section 713 of the Federal Government’s Financial Regulations 2009,
which notes, ‘Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a
government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private
account.’
Accordingly, SERAP urged Tinubu to direct the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi,
and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to conduct a probe promptly and
thoroughly.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken
within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not
heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to
compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest”.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein,
said Edu was not supposed to make N585,198,500.00 into a private account.