Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo fails to appear before CCB, asks for new date

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Tuesday, January 16, failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for an interaction over his alleged link to one of the companies that got contract from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The minister, who was scheduled to appear before the CCB at about 11.00am on Tuesday reportedly wrote to the Bureau requesting for another date.

The Nation learnt the minister informed the Bureau that he had prior engagement official engagement which he need to attend to.

The company, New Planet Projects Limited allegedly got about N438million consultancy contract from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The consultancy job is part of ongoing probe of the suspicious N3 billion spending by the Ministry Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under the watch of now suspended Minister, Dr. Betta Edu.

Tunji-Ojo who is said to be a shareholder in the company, said he had resigned as a director since 2019 when he won election to the House of Representatives, leaving its management in hands of his wife.

However, invitation to the minister was for him to come and show proof that he is no longer involved in the activities of the company, while also reviewing his asset declaration form with a team of investigators.

When The Nation visited the CCB office on the fifth floor, phase 1 of the Federal Secretariat complex, there was no sign that the Minister was to appear there.

A staff of the Public Relations Unit simply told The Nation that “the meeting has been postponed”, but could not say when the Minister will no appear.