The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has said he has not been involved in the affairs of New Planet Project, the company, which won N438m consultancy for the National Social Register under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Amidst the allegation that the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu approved the payment of N585m to an individual, documents have surfaced how a company linked with Tunji-Ojo got the consultancy contract to the tune of N438m.
Already, netizens have called for the head of the interior minister over alleged conflict of interest.
Check by Daily Trust indicated that the company with registration number 804833 was incorporated on March 3, 2009 with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Abimbola Tunji-Ojo listed as directors.
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However, speaking in an interview on Channels TV, the interior minister said he is no longer an officer of the company.
He described the allegation against him as diversionary and said if the company is found to have flouted any law, it should be subjected to appropriate sanction.
He said, “Did the company go through due process? If the answer is yes, fantastic. If it didn’t, let the government take charge of it.
“I am not involved, I have not been involved in the affairs of the company in the last five years. Is it on January 1 when I was building Immigration headquarters and I was working, you were there with me, on Saturday and Sunday, we were busy working…
“To me, this issue is just a diversion, it is a non-issue for me. I am not a director in the company. If the company is found wanting, definitely the law will take its course.
“As of today, I am not an officer of the company but I am an officer and Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, courtesy of the magnanimity of Mr. President.”
