Edu deserves no punishment, but Tunji – Ojo, says Lawyer Nzelu

By Abba – Eku Onyekachi

Abuja

A constitutional lawyer, Amobi Nzelu has said that ex-Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Betta Edu didn’t deserve suspension, but the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji – Ojo

Nzelu also warned against the danger of the old brigades in politics, scaring innocent youths like Edu from politics.

Dr Betta Edu has been suspended by President Ahmed Tinubu and had her account frozen by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that has been investigating her for requesting that about N548 million be paid into a private account for disbursement of palliatives to the poor Nigerians masses in some states of the Federation.

Addressing journalists recently in his chamber on Thursday, Nzelu, popularly known as the Apo Six Lawyer, (due to the role he played when some youths were allegedly murdered by the police in 2005 in Apo, Abuja) however said that since the Account General of the Federation (AGF) confirmed that she didn’t carry out the request made by the Minister, with the reason that the law is against it, he is yet to see the reason why she should be suspended from office.

He said that if anybody should be suspended, it is the Minister of Interior, Tunji – Ojo for the role a company he was a director before played in the whole thing. He was of the opinion that the fact that Tunji – Ojo resigned as the director of the company in 2019 was excusable at law, but was quick to wonder why should the consultancy go to the same company.  

He said: “I don’t see the offence she committed which, warrants her suspension. She made an innocent request and the Account General of course he Federation (AGF) who had the superintendent power, told her that it can’t be done. And the she didn’t put pressure on her to do that. I don’t see the essence of suspending her from office.”

Amobi Nzelu therefore observed that it is the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Finance, her Special Assistant and all those who should have given her advice properly that deserve punishment, even as he added that investigation would show that she wasn’t the author of the letter.

Reiterating that the old brigades in politics shouldn’t dent the names of the youths, he maintained that if all these people, including the AGF warned her and she insisted, let it be. 

Calling for the proper investigation of the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farou, he wondered why somebody saddled with the responsibility of sharing palliatives to the people did that without data. For that, he said that the government hasn’t told Nigerians the essence of the ministry.