The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the award of a N438m consultancy contract to a company linked to him by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
A leaked memo revealed that the firm traced to Tunji-Ojo received N438m as payment for ‘consultancy fees’ from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
But the Minister of Interior had denied any involvement in the contract, stressing that he was no longer involved in the running of the company after resigning as its director in 2019.
However, despite the denial, the CBB in an invitation dated 10 January but seen on Monday has asked Tunji-Ojo to appear before it today (16 January) for interrogation over the contract scandal.
The invitation letter was signed by S.P Gwimi, who heads CCB’s Department of Intelligence, investigation, and monitoring.
“The Minister is invited to appear before the Bureau on Tuesday 16 January 2024 at CCB Headquarters located at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja,” a statement signed by Kato Veronica, head of CCB’s Press and Public Relations, said.
The bureau said its investigation is part of its statutory mandate as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau has commenced an investigation into the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,” the statement added.
The statement further said, “A company named New Planet Projects, allegedly belonging to the Minister (Mr Tunji-Ojo) benefitted from an alleged contract scam from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
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*N3.6bn fraud: EFCC arrests ex-commerce minister, Ugwu
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Ugwu, for alleged conspiracy and loan fraud of N3.6bn.
Ugwu was appointed minister by late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was sacked after a cabinet reshuffle that affected 19 other ministers.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Dele Oyewale, yesterday, the ex-minister was arrested with Chief Geoffrey Ekenma on January 11, 2024, at No.2, Musa Yar’Adua Way, New Owerri in Imo State.
The arrest of the two suspects was said to have followed “a petition to the commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., linked to the ex-minister.
The statement read, “Investigations revealed that Ugwuh and Ekenma, Managing Director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., allegedly obtained a loan facility from the bank for the purchase and production of polished rice.
“However, the suspect, according to the petitioner, failed to meet his obligations to the bank, and all efforts to get him to repay the loan facility proved abortive. The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
