CCB Surmons Minister Over Betta Edu Saga
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the involvement of his company in an alleged N438m contract scam uncovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
According to a leaked document, Tunji-Ojo’s company, New Planet Project limited received N438 million consulting contract sum, from the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Meanwhile, the minister, who had earlier denied any misconduct, said that he left the company in February 2019 after winning a seat in the house of representatives.However, the minister acknowledged that he is still a shareholder in the company even though he is no longer one of its directors.
Curiosly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend Bunmi Tunji-Ojo as minister of interior.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has initiated an investigation into the alleged violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by the Minister of Interior,
The CCB has invited the Minister to appear before them at their headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. TheCCB Director of Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P, signed the document on behalf of the CCB Chairman, Murtala Aliyu.
The bureau said its invitation is based on its mandate and powers as stated in the Third Schedule, Part 1, 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
“The bureau is investigating a case of alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in which your name featured prominently. Consequently, you are invited for an interview scheduled as follows:
“Date: Tuesday, 16th January, 2024. Time: 1100hrs prompt. Venue: CCB Headquarters on 5th Floor, Annex III, Phase I, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
This invitation is pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph 3 (e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Please be properly guided.” The letter addressed to the Minister, read.
How the anti-graft agencies would handle other companies believed to have received different sum of money is yet to be seen.
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