Contract scandal: Civil Society Council  makes case for Tunji-Ojo

By Emmanuel Daudu

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, NCSCN, has made case for the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stating that he was no longer a director in the company.

Recall that Tunji-Ojo faced scrutiny following the controversy surrounding the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu’s financial misappropriation. A leaked document revealed that New Planet Project Limited, a company founded by Tunji-Ojo, secured a N438 million consultancy contract from the ministry.

In response, Tunji-Ojo denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he resigned his directorship in the company in February 2019 when elected as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

The Executive Director, NCSCN, Amb. Blessing Akinlosotu, stated that in less than three months Tunji-Ojo had shown tremendous work and that his involvement in fraud was doubtful.

Akinlosotu said, “Today it is evident that the Ministers can deliver on their mandates. The Minister of Interior has proven that there is hope in the present Government.

“Regarding the case of Minister of Interior and the affected company, there is a clear evidence that the Minister and his wife have resigned from the Board of Directors of the company hereby seizes to control the company.

“It will be erroneous and out of place to expect a company established to render service and create job opportunities to be shut down just because a former director has decided to serve in the status of a public servant, we frown at this mob judgement and call on Nigerians to restrain.”

The NCSCN also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s will to tackle insecurity, saying that “the Council is confident that efforts of the President towards improving Security and Economic welfare of Nigerian gradually yielding positive results.”

Akinlosotu, also commended Tinubu for the massive reduction in the size of the Federal government’s entourage.

He said, “The Civil Society Community also commend the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce the size of entourages of Executive, aimed cutting down the cost of Governance. We hereby call on both the Legislature and the Judiciary to follow suit, in other to save our economy”.