Interior Minister Speaks On Involvement In Betta Edu’s N585m Saga

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has clarified his involvement in an alleged N438.1 million consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the suspended Minister, Betta Edu.

Recall that RovingNaija Reporters had earlier reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended 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.

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.”

RovingNaija also reports that Edu has been under the storm in the past three days over a leaked memo dated 20th December, 2023, instructing the Federation’s Accountant General to pay money meant for vulnerable groups into a private account.