The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has clarified that he is in no way connected to the N585 million fraud allegations levelled against the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, News About Nigeria reports.
Recall that it had been reported earlier that a company allegedly owned by Tunji-Ojo, had received N438 million as ‘consultancy fees’ from the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
However, reacting to the allegation, the minister debunked it, stating that he is not a signatory to the company and was therefore not connected to the contract allegations linked with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Betta Edu.
He said this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The company, New Planet Project Limited, which was allegedly used by Betta Edu to carry out her fraudulent activities, was one of the consultants awarded contracts worth N3 billion by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract.
The social register was created for cash transfers and other social investment programmes.
Betta Edu is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for asking the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to send public funds to a private account that belonged to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a project manager by the minister.
The minister was, however, suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, and an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of the minister was ordered.
She is also expected to appear before the Crimes Commission today for interrogation.
