The opposition Young Progressive Party (YPP) has threatened to shut down Abuja, the federal capital city, if the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is not suspended from office over his alleged role in the alleged theft of monies meant for vulnerable Nigerians.
YPP’s National Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cited “abuse of office” as the reason for its stance against Tunji-Ojo.
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Calling for immediate action on the Minister in line with laid-down rules and regulations, the party also threatened to mobilize for mass action in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK), where it boasted of large followership.
Justifying the position, the party noted: “We have gathered evidence that a company owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Project Limited, was paid a total of N438.1 million by 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 intended 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 additional 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, had 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 obtained by false pretence.”
The party also accused Thalis Apalowo, the National Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, of being a frontier for Tunji-Ojo in securing the contract.
Mr. Apalowo was a Legislative Assistant to Hon. Tunji-Ojo during the 9th House of Representatives, when he served the House Committee on NDDC as its Chairman.
Furthermore, the party alleged that “Apalowo 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 therefore 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.”.
If found guilty of abusing his office, 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 beneficiaries’ lists in the empowerment programs undertaken by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was linked to a company owned by Hon. Tunji-Ojo.
Although the Interior Minister had since cleared the air that he resigned ownership of the company, New Planet Project Limited, since 2019, when he won election to the House of Representatives, Nigerians believe he still has shares in the company and, as such, is an interested party in the firm.