The party therefore, called on the President to immediately suspend Tunji-Ojo, while seeking a "comprehensive and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the appropriate authorities and agencies.”
Young Progressive Party (YPP) has given President Bola Tinubu 48 hours to suspend the Minister of Interior, Mr Olabunmi Tunji-Ojo over his alleged involvement in the over N3 billion fraud in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The party made this known in an open letter addressed to President Tinubu Tuesday night and signed by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri.
The YPP cited "abuse of office" as its reason for calling for the removal of Tunji-Ojo; saying it would deter him from further abusing public office.
The statement reads: "We have gathered evidence that a company owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Project Limited, was paid a total of N438.1 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu, for consultancy services.
“This payment was part of the N3 billion awarded to several consultants for the National Social Register contract, which was intended for cash transfers and social investment programs.
"The payments made to Minister Tunji Ojo's company, New Planet Project Limited, include N279 million for the verification of the list and an additional N159 million for the same purpose. It is worth noting that the company, which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration number 804833, has Minister Tunji Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, listed as directors, with Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement as the company's secretary.
"We strongly believe that Minister Tunji Ojo's actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the Code of Conduct law. Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct law clearly prohibit public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in any business other than farming.
"It is a known fact that a contract of this magnitude could not have been approved except by the Federal Executive Council Meeting of which Minister Tunji Ojo is a Member.”
“Minister Tunji Ojo who knew he had an interest in the New Planet Project Limited, had deceived the Federal Executive Council into approving the contract for him without even informing the FEC that he is a shareholder in the said company, this is deceitful, mischievous and obtaining by false pretence", the letter also read.
The party also accused Thalis Apalowo, the Coordinator of the National Programme Manager for Grants for Vulnerable Groups, of acting as a frontman for Tunji-Ojo to secure the contract.
During the 9th National Assembly, Mr. Apalowo served as the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC as a Legislative Assistant to Tunji-Ojo, who was member of the House of Representatives.
Furthermore, the party alleged, "Apalowo was part of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu's advance team that received a total of N2,515,000 for DTA (Daily Travel Allowance) for five nights, local running expenses at 30% of DTA, flight tickets, and airport taxis to Kogi State, which does not have an airport.”
The party therefore, called on the President to immediately suspend Tunji-Ojo, while seeking a "comprehensive and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the appropriate authorities and agencies.”
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Tuesday that Apalowo who was in charge of the N3 billion paid to numerous companies for consultancy services, was a loyalist and former legislative aide of Tunji-Ojo.
Tunji-Ojo represented Akoko North Federal constituency in Ondo State between 2009 and 2023 before he was appointed as interior minister by President Bola Tinubu.
SaharaReporters had reported how Tunji-Ojo’s company was paid a total amount of N438.1 million by the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation ministry for consultancy services.
The company, New Planet Project Limited was one of the consultants awarded contracts from the N3 billion given out by suspended minister, Betta Edu for the National Social Register contract.
The company was initially paid N279 million for verification of the list and another N159 million for the same purpose.
The Social Register verification is for vulnerable people living in the country. Apalowo heads the unit.
A check by SaharaReporters revealed that New Planet Project Limited has the interior minister and his wife, Abimbola as directors.
One Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement is also listed as the secretary of the company which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration number 804833.
A source in the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation ministry on Tuesday confirmed to SaharaReporters that Apalowo - a former legislative aide of Tunji-Ojo - was in charge of the consultancy contract.
“Apalowo was his former legislative aide whom he lobbied to be appointed as National Project Manager for the GVG under the humanitarian affairs ministry which gave the consultancy job,” the source said.
“Most Nigerians don’t know that this National Project Manager for the Grants of Vulnerable Group, Thalis Olonite Apalowo served as his (Tunji-Ojo) former legislative aide. And it’s the same NPM that is in charge of the consultancy contract which the minister’s company got.”
Another source said, “He lobbied the appointment for his former legislative aide, Thalis Olonite Apalowo as National Project Manager for the GVG. The same Apalowo was one of the delegates listed to travel by air from Abuja to the unknown Kogi Airport.”
A further check on Apalowo’s Facebook page showed he has the photograph of the interior minister as his profile picture.
He was also seen in many pictures wearing the campaign attire of Tunji-Ojo.
SaharaReporters learnt that Tunji-Ojo’s action is against the Nigerian Constitution and Code of Conduct law.
The Code of Conduct law, in sections 5 and 6, bars public officers from putting themselves in positions of conflict of interest and prevents them from partaking in any business other than farming.
Other beneficiaries of the N3 billion contract include Fabunmi Olanipekun & Co. which got N419.5 million. Vintsolve Global Consult was also paid N558.8 million.
Periscope Consulting got N277 million, Blue Trend Enterprise was N277.8 million, Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services got N277 million, Memak Nigeria Limited was paid N277 million, MC Van Management Consult Limited got N275.8 million while Danzinger Nigeria Limited- N275.8 million.