Abuja, Jan. 9, 2024 – The Presidency on Tuesday summoned Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, over the alleged payment payment of N438 million to his company by Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
The presidential summon was barely 24 hours after Edu was suspended from office over the issue.
They money was allegedly paid as consultancy fee to New Planet Project Limited, a company where Tunji-Ojo was a director.
But the minister had earlier denied any involvement in the N438.1 million consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The minister, who spoke on Channels TV on Monday night, said he founded the company 10 years ago, but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for House of Representatives.
He described the report as shocking as was just a shareholder in the company and not involved in the day-to-day running of the company.
“I have to say this, I saw it and I was shocked because the company in question was a company, where I was the director.
“About five years ago, I had resigned my directorship. Yes, I founded the company 10 years ago. In 2019 and when I got to the House of Representatives, when I won the election precisely, I resigned. I resigned 4th of February 2019 with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.”
Tunji-Ojo, who said he came into public office knowing fully well that Nigerians would ask questions, charged relevant agencies to probe the contract processes.
He added, “I do not run the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the contract. I am not a signatory to any account. I am not a director of the company.
“The company is a limited liability company, which is a private entity. So if the company is a private entity, of course, I am still a shareholder, and to the best of my knowledge public service rule does not prohibit public officers from being shareholders.
“What public service rule says is that you cannot be a director, of which I had resigned about five years ago.
“I have no business with it, absolutely no business. Because I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the company. I do not pursue jobs for the company. I do not bid for the company. I am not a signatory to the company’s account. I am not involved,” he had said. (GBN)
