Following the suspension of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu, and possible prosecution, the President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate dismissal of the heads of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera and that of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Alexander Okoh.

According to the President’s spokesman  Ajuri Ngelale,  their dismissals were in conformity with plans to restructure and reposition critical agencies of the Federal Government.

This, he added, was also towards protecting the rights of Nigerian consumers and providing strong basis for enhanced contributions to the nation’s economy by key growth-enabling institutions. 

Ngelale said that the two dismissed Chief Executives are directed to hand over to the next most senior officer in their respective agencies, pending the appointment of new ones.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to its headquarters located in Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

The invitation came immediately  the President, Bola Tinubu announced her immediate suspension from office. 

An operative of the EFCC, said the anti-graft agency had earlier recommended the immediate suspension of the Minister in order to pave way for the ongoing investigation that had been ordered by the President.

The  commission had immediately swung into action following the President's order for a thorough investigation into the alleged  payment of N585.189 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states into a private account.

“Our investigation into the alleged payment won’t be thorough if we didn’t recommend the Minister’s suspension. Her suspension will give us liberty to do our job thoroughly as directed by the President.

Civil Society Organisations, activist lawyers, opposition political parties had called for her Sack.