Tunji-Ojo’s invitation by the CCB was sequel to the Bureau’s investigation into the minister’s alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, following his company, New Planet Projects Limited involvement in benefitting from the contract fraud of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the leadership of the suspended Minister, Betta Edu.
The Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has reportedly invited the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over his company’s involvement in the alleged N438million contract fraud by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Tunji-Ojo’s invitation by the CCB was sequel to the Bureau’s investigation into the minister’s alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, following his company, New Planet Projects Limited involvement in benefitting from the contract fraud of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the leadership of the suspended Minister, Betta Edu.
According to PUNCH in a document it obtained on Monday, the CCB invited Tunji-Ojo to appear before it on Tuesday, January 16, at the CCB Headquarters, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
The document signed by the CCB Director, Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P, on behalf of the CCB Chairman, Murtala Aliyu, revealed that the Bureau’s invitation was premised on its mandate and powers as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part 1, 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The invitation read, “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.”
SaharaReporters on January 8 reported that the company, New Planet Project Limited, owned by the Minister was paid a total amount of N438.1million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under Betta Edu for consultancy services.
The company was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from N3 billion given out by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract.
In a document obtained, Tunji-Ojo’s New Planet Project Limited was initially paid N279 million for verification of the list and another N159 million for the same purpose.
An independent check by SaharaReporters revealed that the firm 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.
The action is however 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.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the Network for Growth and Actualization of Viable Development (NEFGAD), a public procurement advocacy group, faulted Tunji-Ojo’s defence over his involvement in the controversial N3 billion contracts awarded by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The minister had denied personally benefiting through his company from the N438.1 million from the alleged controversial N3 billion social register contracts given out by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.