President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to the Presidential Villa.
The summon follows the controversy that has hitched the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the award of a consultancy contract to the tune of N438 million, for the National Social Register to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company he is a beneficial owner.
Recall that Tinubu suspended Betta Edu over corruption allegations on Monday.
Shortly after Edu’s suspension, reports emerged that the Minister paid a company owned by the Minister of Interior a total amount of N438.1 million for consultancy services.
“The company, New Planet Project Limited, was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from N3bn given out by the suspended Minister for the National Social Register contract,” the report stated.
However, reacting, Tunji-Ojo, while appearing on Channels TV Politics Today on Monday night, said that he founded the company ten years ago but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for the House of Representatives.
The Minister, who described the report as shocking, said he was not involved in the day-to-day running of New Planet Project Limited.
He said, “I have to say this: I saw it and was shocked because the company in question was where I was the director. About five years ago, I resigned my directorship.
“Yes, I founded the company ten years ago. In 2019, when I got to the House of Representatives, I won the election precisely, and I resigned. I resigned on 4th February 2019, with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.”
