As debates proceed to warmth up over the involvement of Nigeria’s Minister of Inside, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo within the scandalous contract on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Younger Progressive Celebration, YPP, has known as on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to droop the inside minister.
The get together threatened that failure to droop Tunji-Ojo inside 48 hours, it might mobilize youths throughout the nation to close down Abuja on Monday, fifteenth January, 2024.
In an open letter addressed to Nigeria President Tuesday night time and signed by the Nationwide Chairman of the get together, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, the YPP cited alleged “abuse of workplace” as its cause for calling for the pinnacle of Tunji-Ojo, saying it might deter him from additional abusing public workplace.
“Now we have gathered proof that an organization owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Challenge Restricted, was paid a complete of N438.1 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation beneath the management of Dr. Betta Edu, for consultancy companies.
“This fee was a part of the N3 billion awarded to a number of consultants for the Nationwide Social Register contract, which was meant for money transfers and social funding applications.
“The funds made to Minister Tunji Ojo’s firm, New Planet Challenge Restricted, embrace N279 million for the verification of the listing and a further N159 million for a similar function.
“It’s value noting that the corporate, which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration quantity 804833, has Minister Tunji Ojo and his spouse, Abimbola, listed as administrators, with Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement as the corporate’s secretary.
“We strongly consider that Minister Tunji Ojo’s actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Structure and the Code of Conduct regulation. Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct regulation clearly prohibit public officers from participating in conflicts of curiosity and collaborating in any enterprise apart from farming.
“It’s a recognized reality {that a} contract of this magnitude couldn’t have been authorised besides by the Federal Government Council Assembly of which Minister Tunji Ojo is a Member.
“Minister Tunji Ojo, who knew he had an curiosity within the New Planet Challenge Restricted, had deceived the Federal Government Council into approving the contract for him with out even informing the FEC that he’s a shareholder within the mentioned firm; that is deceitful, mischievous and acquiring by false pretence”, the letter reads partially.
The get together additionally accused one Thalis Apalowo, the Coordinator of the Nationwide Programme Supervisor for Grants for Weak Teams, as a fronter for Tunji-Ojo in securing the contract.
It alleged that Apalowo was a Legislative Assistant to Hon. Tunji-Ojo through the ninth Home of Representatives and that he was a part of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu’s advance group “that obtained a complete of N2,515,000 for DTA (Day by day Journey Allowance) for 5 nights, native operating bills at 30% of DTA, flight tickets, and airport taxis to Kogi State, which doesn’t have an airport”.
The get together known as on the President to instantly droop Tunji-Ojo, whereas looking for a “complete and impartial investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the suitable authorities and businesses.”
The YPP urged Tinubu to provoke “acceptable authorized actions in opposition to Minister Tunji Ojo”, to function a deterrent to others.
Recall that an award of contract for verification of beneficiary’s listing within the empowerment applications undertaken by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was linked to an organization owned by Hon. Tunji-Ojo.
Nonetheless, the Inside Minister has cleared the air that he resigned the possession of the corporate, New Planet Challenge Restricted since 2019, when he gained election into the Home of Representatives.