The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, may not return to office, investigations by Saturday PUNCH revealed on Friday.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement that the action of the President was in line with his avowed commitment to uphold what he described as the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

"In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect," Ngelale said in the statement.

Presidential sources told one of our correspondents that it would be difficult for the embattled minister to return to office, adding that the alleged scandal in the ministry was more than what "is before the public." The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment on the matter said, "What we have in that ministry is more than what we have seen. I can tell you that Edu may not return to the ministry of even return as a minister.

"She may not be the only one involved. But as it stands now, she should forget the idea or dream of her returning to the Federal Executive Council. In fact, she is gone."

President Bola Tinubu had on Sunday directed a comprehensive inquiry into the multi-million naira N585m scandal in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.