…I’m not involved – Minister
The wife of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has been fingered in a N438 million deal in the unfolding sleaze in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Already, President Bola Tinubu has suspended Dr. Betta Edu, the minister in charge of the ministry over questionable lodgment of N585 million into a private account.
Also, he directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Now, a company founded by the Minister of Interior but now run by his wife was allegedly paid N438.1 million by Edu as consultancy services.
But the minister has denied involvement in the N438.1 million consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Tunji-Ojo while appearing on Channels TV Politics Today, on Monday night revealed that he founded the company 10 years ago, but ceased to be a director in 2019 when he contested for a seat in the House of Representatives.
The Minister of Interior, who described the report as shocking, said he is just a shareholder in the company and not involved in the day-to-day running of New Planet Project Limited.
His words: “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.
“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.
“So the company is an entity on its own. The question should be: was the job given to the company? If the answer is yes. Then the question is: did they follow due process? It is a yes. Did the company deliver on the job? If it’s a yes, then number three is that they did deliver in line with the agreement of the contract? If it is a no, then they should be sanctioned by the book”.