Humanitarian Affairs Ministry probe: Interior Minister fails to appear before CCB, requests new date

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ignored an invitation by the Code of Conduct Bureau over an ongoing investigation bordering on alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers.

According to reports,  The minister who was scheduled to meet with interrogators at 11am, did not show up at the bureau between 10am and 1pm.

Confirming the development in an interview on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the CCB, Veronica Kato, said the minister’s interrogation would be rescheduled for a later date following his memo to the bureau citing national assignment.

“Yes, the minister’s interrogation has been rescheduled. He wrote, asking that it be rescheduled because he has a national assignment, so it has been rescheduled for a later date,” Kato said.

When asked about the next scheduled date, she said there was no specific date yet.

“We don’t have a precise date now, but it has been rescheduled to another day,” she said.

The CCB had invited the embattled minister over the involvement of his company in a ₦438 million contract with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The company, New Planet Projects, allegedly belonging to the minister, benefitted from a contract from the ministry.

A document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday revealed that the CCB invited the minister to appear before it on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the CCB headquarters, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.

The document signed by Gwimi S.P, the CCB Director, Investigation and Monitoring, on behalf of the CCB Chairman, Murtala Aliyu, revealed that the bureau’s invitation is hinged on its mandate and powers as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part 1, 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution.

The letter addressed to the minister, read, “The bureau is investigating a case of alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in which your name featured prominently. Consequently, you are invited for an interview scheduled as follows:

“Date: Tuesday, 16th January, 2024. Time: 1100hrs prompt. Venue: CCB Headquarters on 5th Floor, Annex III, Phase I, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.

“This invitation is pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph 3 (e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Please be properly guided.”

Interest groups defend Tunji-Ojo, allege media trial 

Meanwhile, some interest groups, the Coalition of Civil Rights Organisations and Elite Africa, have defended the allegations against the embattled minister, while alleging media trial and accusing his opponents of being unhappy with his ‘growing popularity’.

In a statement on Monday, CCRO said, “The Coalition of Civil Rights Organisations unequivocally wishes to debunk the purported invitation of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, by the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged corruption.

“This latest report by a section of the media is another in the series of the campaign of calumny which has recently been orchestrated by sponsored propagandists who are mainly out to discredit the radical transformation, being undertaken by Tunji-Ojo, and by extension, to undermine the achievements of President Bola Tinubu.

“There is no doubt that the timing and nature of these allegations appear suspicious and politically motivated, aiming to tarnish the reputation of a public servant known for his commitment to transparency and accountability.

“We have thoroughly examined the circumstances surrounding the purported invitation by the CCB and find them to lack credible evidence, resembling a smear campaign rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. We want to strongly believe, that if perhaps, there is a need for any conversation or interrogation to be conducted by the CBB, how did such become a media affair, if it is not a smear campaign, like we suspected?”

The second group, Elite Africa, in a statement, attacked the South West Integrity Group for demanding the suspension of Tunji-Ojo over alleged corruption.

The statement read in part, “The South West Integrity Group, in a publication, had stated that Tunji-Ojo should resign over his alleged involvement in the recent controversy in the award of contracts at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“The timing of these allegations, coupled with the sweeping reforms he has instituted, raises eyebrows. It seems certain elements within the political landscape are uneasy with Tunji-Ojo’s unyielding stance against corruption.

“His track record of dismantling established systems of exploitation has made him a thorn in the side of those who thrived on malfeasance.”