Betta Edu turns out to be Tunji-Ojo’s third major scandal, and is using one same strategy to survive
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bunmi Tunji-Ojo’s links to the scandal in the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry has turned out to be the third major scandal linking him in four years and he has a way of dealing with such sleaze by letting the headlines die out.
New Planet Projects, a firm in which the Interior Minister has interests, was awarded a N438 consultancy contract by Betta Edu, whom President Bola Tinubu suspended earlier this month as Humanitarian Affairs Minister for requesting release of N585 million to a private account.
Tunji-Ojo, arguably Tinubu’s best performing Minister, was last week invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to explain his role in the contract but he requested a new date to honour the invitation.
Edu has since been interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which granted her bail.
Her predecessor Sadiya Umar-Farouq has also been quizzed by the graft buster, as well as the ministry’s suspended Poverty Alleviation Coordinator, Halima Shehu.
The suspensions of Edu and Shehu to pave the way for unfettered investigation of the scandal have prompted calls for Tinubu to also suspend Tunji-Ojo.
But Tunji-Ojo has insisted he did no wrong, having resigned his directorship in New Planet Projects when he was elected into the House of Representatives in 2019 in accordance with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
He explained, nonetheless, he is still a shareholder in the company which is reportedly managed by his wife, Abimbola.
Critics across social countered his resignation from the company is not enough because he remains its beneficial owner, stoking talk of conflict of interest.
However, other netizens defended him.
Fisayo Soyombo (X)
“Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo will NEVER be able to revolutionise Nigeria’s messily-corrupt passport application system. Zero percent chance!”
“You know why already: his hands are not clean.”
Kelvin Odanz (X)
“The digitization reform for processing International passport that Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (introduced/embarked on) clearly threatened the livelihood of so many ‘civil servants.’
“And there is a huge fighting back going on. Unfortunately Nigerians, in their ignorance, will be used as pawns in this battle.”
Tunji-Ojo is not new to scandal, as at least two others had dogged him before this EduGate.
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Related articles:
Betta Edu did not act alone, cartel behind funds mismanagement, Ndume tells Tinubu
CCB summons Tunji-Ojo over N438m contract awarded by Betta Edu
Sani reminds Nigerians, Edu and Shehu would have carried on under Buhari
Netizens pick “Passport Fixer” Tunji-Ojo as Tinubu’s best Minister
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NDDC contract probe
Tunji-Ojo, who was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC [Niger Delta Development Commission] in the nineth National Assembly (NASS), faced corruption allegations in 2020 during the probe of the NDDC under Daniel Pondei, per Daily Post.
Pondei staged a walkout during the investigation, saying, “We are not comfortable with the chairman of this committee presiding over a matter he has been accused of.
“There is no point of order here. As long as he is the chairman of this committee, the NDDC will not make any presentation here.”
According to the NDDC, Tunji-Ojo’s company was a beneficiary of some of the questionable contracts awarded by the NDDC.
Tunji-Ojo was forced to recuse himself from that investigation due to the corruption allegations against him and his company.
NYSC certificate
At his ministerial screening in 2023, Tunji-Ojo also faced scrutiny over his National Youth Service Corpse (NYSC) certificate prompting allegation of certificate forgery.
He claimed to have completed his NYSC scheme in 2020, which raised two questions.
One, he was well above the 30-year age limit for the scheme in 2020, having been born in 1982.
Second, it meant he was serving in the NYSC while he was in the NASS as a lawmaker.
Besides, the NYSC certificate had 2023 as the date of issuance.
However, the NYSC later “authenticated the genuineness” of the certificate, saying Tunji-Ojo was initially mobilised in 2006 but absconded before he later completed the one-year mandatory service for those who graduate below the age of 30.
Despite the controversies, the Senate cleared and confirmed him as Minister.
Tunji-Ojo’s strategy of dealing with scandals
Tuji-Ojo has scraped through all previous scandals and Tinubu appears not willing to suspend him for the latest one dubbed EduGate even as Edu the fall guy herself is now cooling her heels outside her office.
Many believe Tunji-Ojo’s relationship with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, may be a major factor.
The strategy of Tunji-Ojo is to always allow “time to address issues,” said one of his former aides, who did not want his name published.
“Honourable [Tunji-Ojo] appeared on Seun Okinbaloye’s programme [on Channels Television] to discuss the passport portal knowing fully well that Seun would ask him about the Edu matter. Some politicians will avoid speaking, thereby creating more doubt.”
His strategy seems to be working
Tunji-Ojo emphasised during his interview with Channels Television he resigned from New Planet Projects in 2019, and his supporters argued he complied with the CCB and Tribunal Act.
But he and his supporters have avoided the question of conflict of interest since he is still a shareholder in the company.