The Young Progressive Party, YPP, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over his alleged involvement in a scandalous contract at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The party warned that if Tunji-Ojo was not suspended within 48 hours, it would mobilise youths across the country to shut down Abuja on Monday, 15th January 2024.
In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu on Tuesday night and signed by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, the YPP accused Tunji-Ojo of “abuse of office” and said his suspension would prevent him from further abusing public office.
“We have gathered evidence that a company owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Project Limited, received a total of N438.1 million from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu, for consultancy services.
“This payment was part of the N3 billion awarded to several consultants for the National Social Register contract, which was meant for cash transfers and social investment programs.
“The payments made to Minister Tunji Ojo’s company, New Planet Project Limited, include N279 million for the verification of the list and an extra N159 million for the same purpose.
“It is worth noting that the company, which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration number 804833, has Minister Tunji Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, listed as directors, with Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement as the company’s secretary.
“We strongly believe that Minister Tunji Ojo’s actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the Code of Conduct law. Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct law clearly prohibit public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in any business other than farming.
“It is a known fact that a contract of this magnitude could not have been approved except by the Federal Executive Council Meeting of which Minister Tunji Ojo is a Member.
“Minister Tunji Ojo, who knew he had an interest in the New Planet Project Limited, deceived the Federal Executive Council into approving the contract for him without even informing the FEC that he is a shareholder in the said company; this is deceitful, mischievous and obtaining by false pretence”, the letter reads in part.
The party also alleged that one Thalis Apalowo, the Coordinator of the National Programme Manager for Grants for Vulnerable Groups, was a front for Tunji-Ojo in securing the contract.
It claimed that Apalowo was a Legislative Assistant to Hon. Tunji-Ojo during the 9th House of Representatives and that he was part of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu’s advance team “that received a total of N2,515,000 for DTA (Daily Travel Allowance) for five nights, local running expenses at 30% of DTA, flight tickets, and airport taxis to Kogi State, which does not have an airport”.
The party called on the President to immediately suspend Tunji-Ojo, while seeking a “comprehensive and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the appropriate authorities and agencies.”
The YPP urged Tinubu to initiate “appropriate legal actions against Minister Tunji Ojo”, to serve as a deterrent to others.
Recall that an award of contract for verification of the beneficiary’s list in the empowerment programs undertaken by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was linked to a company owned by Hon. Tunji-Ojo.
However, the Interior Minister has cleared the air that he resigned the ownership of the company, New Planet Project Limited in 2019 when he won election into the House of Representatives.