Anti-graft agency, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has invited the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the award of a N438 million contract to a company linked to him by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
A leaked memo had shown that the firm traced to Tunji-Ojo received N438 million as payment for ‘consultancy fees’ from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, but the Interior Minister denied any involvement in the contract, insisting that he was no longer involved in running of the company after resigning as its director in 2019.
Despite the denial, CBB in an invitation dated January 10, but released yesterday, has asked Tunji-Ojo to appear before it today (Tuesday) for interrogation over the contract scandal. The letter was signed by Gwimi S.P, who heads CCB’s department of intelligence, investigation and monitoring.
“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.”
A statement by Kato Veronica, head of CCB’s Press and Public Relations, said: “The Minister is invited to appear before the Bureau on Tuesday at CCB Headquarters, Abuja. The CCB has commenced an investigation into the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by the Minister.”
This is coming after President Bola Tinubu last week summoned the embattled minister days after Edu, in the eye of the storm, was suspended by the President to face interrogation at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
MEANWHILE, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC have arrested a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh, for an alleged conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N3.6 billion.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday explained that Ugwuh was arrested alongside Geoffrey Ekenma on January 11, at No.2, Musa Yar’Adua way, New Owerri, Imo State, following a petition to the commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., linked to the ex-Minister.
According to Oyewale, investigations revealed that Ugwuh and Ekenma, Managing Director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., allegedly obtained a loan facility from the bank for the purchase and production of polished rice.
“However, the suspect, according to the petitioner, failed to meet up his obligations to the bank and all efforts to get him to repay the loan facility proved abortive. The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he added.
