Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), has refuted claims that her office honored a request to disburse N585 million into a private account as directed by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu. The minister’s directive, which has circulated on social media, authorized the disbursement of funds to Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos States.
In response to the allegations, Madein clarified that although her office received the minister’s request, the payment was not processed. The AGF emphasized that payments for such purposes are typically processed by the concerned ministries as self-accounting entities. Madein outlined that bulk payments to an individual’s account, especially in the name of the Project Accountant, breach established payment procedures.
The AGF’s statement, signed by Director of Press Mr. Jacob Mokwa, reiterated the commitment to accountability and transparency in public finance management. Madein advised minister’s , ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to adhere to the prescribed steps in conducting financial transactions, emphasizing the necessity of sending payments to beneficiaries through verified bank accounts.
This development comes as the media assistant to Dr. Betta Edu had earlier defended the legitimacy of the payment, stating that it was within the civil service guidelines for project accountants to receive and utilize funds in private accounts, provided proper documentation is maintained. The conflicting narratives surrounding the incident raise questions about transparency and adherence to financial protocols within government transactions.