As Tinubu summons Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over controversial contract award, Interior Minister explains: “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.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the Presidential Villa.
The summon follows the controversy that has followed the handling of public funds by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Ojo, and the award of a consultancy contract to the tune of N438 million, for the National Social Register to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company Tunji-Ojo has interest in.
But even before the presidential summons today, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had reacted to the rumour of his involvement in the alleged N438.1 million consultancy contract fee approved for New Planet Project Limited by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, while the suspended Minister, Betta Edu was in charge.
He made the clarification on Monday night, while featuring on Channels TV Politics Today, where he denied his involvement in the saga.
Tinubu on Monday suspended Edu, who has been under the storm in the past few days over a leaked memo dated 20th December, 2023, which instructed the Federation’s Accountant General to pay money meant for vulnerable groups into a private account.
Shortly after the axe fell on Edu, reports made the rounds that she paid a company owned by the Minister of Interior a total amount of N438.1 million for consultancy services.
“The company, New Planet Project Limited, was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from N3bn given out by the suspended Minister for the National Social Register contract,” the report alleged.
Responding to the allegation, Tunji-Ojo admitted that he founded the company ten years ago but went on to say he left the organization in 2019 to contest for the House of Representatives.
He described the report as shocking, adding that he was not involved in the day-to-day running of New Planet Project Limited, when the deal was agreed.
Speaking during the chat Tunji-Ojo said: “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.”