Contagion as Tunji-Ojo Distances Self from Payments by Humanitarian Ministry

•Edu suspended, Umar-Farouq detained 

•Tinubu directs EFCC to thoroughly scan all financial transactions in ministry

•Charges Edun-led panel to carry out detailed financial architecture of social investment programmes  

•Minister denied access to villa, pass seized 

•Uzodimma: we can’t query president’s wisdom 

•Ndume, others commend development

Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh, Alex Enumah, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, yesterday, denied personally benefitting through his company, New Planet Project Limited, from the sum of N438.1 million from the alleged fake N3 billion social register contract by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, hitherto headed by Dr. Betta Edu.

Even as more revelations emerged about who got what from the controversial contracts, the scandal showed no sign of abating. Instead, it spread like wildfire in the harmattan, with more people getting sucked in.

But President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, yielded to the recommendations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and suspended Edu with immediate effect, following alleged financial impropriety in her ministry.

Edu’s predecessor in office, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, was yesterday detained by EFCC over an alleged N37.1 billion fraud while she held sway as minister.

The presidency said Tinubu’s directive was in line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, the president further directed the chairman of EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation into all financial transactions involving Edu’s ministry as well as agencies under it.

Tinubu also tasked the investigating panel headed by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes. The president said this was to conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.

While the directives by the president took immediate effect, Edu was denied access to Tinubu at State House, Abuja, yesterday afternoon, and her access pass taken back from her by State House security.

However, contrary to reports that Tunji-Ojo benefited from Edu’s alleged fake N3 billion social register contract, documents showed that the interior minister resigned as a director at the company nearly five years ago.

New Planet Project Limited, with registration number 804833, was said to have been registered on March 3, 2009.

A Certified True Copy of the Corporate Affairs Commission dated August 8, revealed that the minister had alongside four others resigned as directors on February 1, 2019.

The document titled Form CAC 7A, contained the names and addresses of the old directors as well as the new ones.

Section A contained names of “directors ceasing to hold office” from February 1, 2019. They included Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Abimbola Tunji-Ojo, Okpanachi George Echiye, Idris Shuaibu, and Hassan Suleiman.

Section B, on the other hand, contained names of newly appointed directors, which included Otegbeye Olabanji Oladapo and Anne Adeiza Bello.

The column for directors of the company from the date of the notice showed Akinmulewo Amos Oladapo, Otegbeye Olabanji Oladapo, and Anne Adeiza Bello, as directors.

The document was signed by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Akinmulewo Amos Oladapo as Director and Director/Secretary/Authorised officer, respectively.

The document was further presented for filing at the CAC by one Abu Dennis, on February 6, 2019.

Nonetheless, Edu was directed to hand over to Permanent Secretary in the humanitarian affairs ministry, and further directed by the president to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities in their investigation.

The embattled minister, who was denied access to Tinubu at State House, Abuja, had arrived the seat of government with the intention of having a personal discussion with the president.

While she succeeded in clearing all security checks up to the president’s office, she was not lucky enough to see him in his office.

Apart from her inability to have audience with Tinubu, it was also gathered that her access tag to State House was immediately withdrawn from her by the president’s security.

Edu was ferried out of the president’s office in a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to State House security.

It was not immediately clear whether she was later allowed to use her official vehicle out of the premises of the Presidential Villa.

Hours after her suspension, EFCC invited Edu to its headquarters to answer questions over an alleged attempt to move N585 million to a private account.

Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reacted to Edu’s suspension, saying it is difficult to question the wisdom of the president.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, and other interest groups, described Edu’s suspension as part of Tinubu’s determination to fight corruption in the country.

Meanwhile, Edu was expected to appear before interrogators at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency today. Her invitation followed the directive of the president to the anti-graft agency to probe the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry after he approved her suspension.

Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Farouq, was still being questioned by EFCC interrogators as at 6:40 pm yesterday, over allegations that she laundered N37.1 billion while serving as a minister in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

A competent source at EFCC told THISDAY that the agency had sent out an invitation to Edu and expected her to appear at the EFCC headquarters today.

“We have invited Beta. Sadiya is still with us. Betta Edu has been mandated to report to the commission tomorrow,” the source said.

It was further gathered that the anti-graft agency had recommended the immediate suspension of the minister in order to pave way for a thorough investigation.

Following the president’s approval of her suspension, the commission swung into action over the minister’s alleged payment of N585,189 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states into a private account.

A source close to the investigation said, “Our investigation into the alleged payment won’t be thorough if we didn’t recommend the minister’s suspension. Her suspension will give us liberty to do our job thoroughly as directed by the president.

“An official invitation by the commission has already been sent to her. We expect her to honour the invitation to give proper insight into the issue at hand. So, we expect her to arrive here anytime soon.”

But the commission detained Umar-Farouq, as investigation into her alleged involvement in the laundering of N37.1 billion while she served as minister, continued.

The former minister arrived the headquarters of the commission in Jabi, Abuja, yesterday, about 9:30am.

Competent sources confirmed her arrival at the agency and her subsequent detention.

“She arrived this morning and is facing interrogators,” the source said.

Umar-Farouq had written the anti-graft agency to tender her apology for failing to honour a previous invitation by the commission to answer questions on the alleged laundering of N37.1 billion.

Uzodimma: We Can’t Question President’s Wisdom

Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reacted to Edu’s suspension by Tinubu over allegations of financial impropriety, and said it was difficult to question the president’s wisdom.

Speaking with newsmen after meeting with Tinubu at State House, Abuja, Uzodimma said the president in his wisdom took the decision, which could not be questioned by anyone.

He stated, “Like you know, this is very clear. Whether progressive governors’ forum, or whether as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question.

“And what is more, if there are allegations and the president said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to.

“So, I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media. I think let’s allow the sleeping dog to lie.”

The governor commented on the implementation of the 2024 Appropriation Act, which he said would ease off the current economic strains occasioned by the administration’s reform policies.

Uzodimma stated that with only 50 per cent execution of this year’s budget, Nigeria would witness much recovery and not be the same again.

He said he visited the president to wish him a Happy New Year and invite him to the swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office on January 15, and update him on developments in Imo State.

Ndume: Edu’s Suspension Indicates Tinubu’s Determination to Tackle Graft

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, said the suspension of Edu was part of Tinubu’s determination to fight corruption in the country.

Ndume urged the president to urgently curtail the activities of an emerging political cartel in his government. He warned that the cartel could be worse than a cabal if their excesses remained unchecked, saying Edu’s alleged fraud case may not be an isolated incident.

The senator, who is currently observing Umran (lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, spoke by telephone with journalists in Abuja, yesterday.

He commended Tinubu for suspending the embattled minister.

Ndume insisted that the emerging political cartel might destabilise the administration of Tinubu if their excesses were not curbed immediately.

The senator for Borno South Senatorial District maintained that in order for Tinubu to succeed and deliver on his Renewed Hope Agenda, some tough decisions must be taken and some elements curtailed within the administration.

Edu: Northern Group Commends Tinubu

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) commended Tinubu for the suspension of Edu.

AYCF, in a statement in Kaduna by its president, Yarima Shettima, said Edu’s suspension was an indication that the Tinubu administration had zero tolerance for corruption.

The statement said the suspension of Edu should serve as a warning to other minsters to shun activities that would tarnish the image of the administration.

Shettima stated, “The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is an indication that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has zero tolerance for any form of corruption.

“We as a youth body are hereby reiterating our support to the Tinubu’s administration and urge him to throw more search light on other cabinet members to ensure that they do not engage in any activities that will undermine his administration.

“With the present development, our eyes will be on all the serving ministers with the view to exposing any of them with any corrupt tendencies.”

HURIWA: Edu’s Suspension Step in Right Direction

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) commended the suspension of Edu over alleged misconducts, describing it as “a step in the right direction”.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, applauded Tinubu for taking the bull by the horns by his immediate suspension of the minister over alleged.

The rights group said Tinubu’s action was a bold step in the fight against corruption, and added that it was unthinkable that such a powerful erstwhile national women leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could have been “suspended under the 8-year treacherous and most corrupt administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

“We the people of Nigeria are happy that the president has responded swiftly.”

HURIWA urged that “the process of investigation of all the allegations would be painstakingly carried out so we avoid the political situation whereby the entire process will turn out a charade or become a scenario of the ‘more you look the less you see’.

“We are watching and hoping that no stone is left unturned to ensure that not a single kobo belonging to the masses of Nigeria is diverted by crooked means. Enough is enough! We hope that this whole development wouldn’t turn as ‘government magic’ which will become a disastrous betrayal of public trust.”

Onwubiko also advised Tinubu to be thorough and transparent in all his appointments, emphasising that Tinubu should prove wrong the impression in the minds of millions of Nigerians that a clear majority of his ministers bought their positions with money.

He said the way to regain public trust was by appointing competent and patriotic Nigerians, who merited whatever position of authority that the government bestowed on them. He stressed that a call to national service was not a self-centred enterprise for pecuniary benefits of the appointees.

Onwubiko also advised the president to dismiss ministers who weren’t focused on delivering their mandates.