The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has addressed allegations of his involvement in a purported N438.1 million consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, led by the suspended Minister Betta Edu. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Edu on corruption charges.
Following Edu’s suspension, reports surfaced claiming that the Minister of Interior paid N438.1 million to a company owned by him for consultancy services. The company, New Planet Project Limited, was reportedly one of the consultants awarded contracts from the N3 billion allocated by the suspended Minister for the National Social Register contract.
In response, Tunji-Ojo, appearing on Channels TV Politics Today on Monday night, refuted the allegations, stating that he founded the company ten years ago but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for the House of Representatives. He expressed shock at the report and clarified that he was not involved in the day-to-day operations of New Planet Project Limited.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized, “I have to say this: I saw it and was shocked because the company in question was where I was the director. About five years ago, I resigned my directorship. Yes, I founded the company ten years ago. In 2019, when I got to the House of Representatives, I won the election precisely, and I resigned. I resigned on 4th February 2019, with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.”
It’s noteworthy that Edu has faced scrutiny over a leaked memo instructing the Federation’s Accountant General to transfer funds meant for vulnerable groups into a private account.
