The Code of Conduct Bureau’s invitation of the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is to establish that he had duly resigned his directorship in New Plant Projects Limited, a company fingered in executing scandalous contracts for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, sources have said.
The CCB spokesperson, Veronica Kato, in a statement yesterday said the minister was expected to appear at the Bureau headquarters in Abuja today in connection with the contract involving the company linked to him.
However, sources close to the minister, who do not want their names mentioned in print, said the position of the law is that he did not commit any offence, having duly resigned his directorship of the company.
“The said company also carried out similar jobs for the same ministry in 2016 and 2018. That might have influenced the award of the job to the company.
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“Also, it is understandable that the cabal he has displaced to bring fresh air in his own ministry will be ready to fuel any strand to oust him for their own interest. His performance and others are also worthy of mentioning.
“The invitation by the Code of Conduct Bureau is largely to establish the fact that he duly resigned his directorship of the company as he clearly indicated his interest in the said company in his asset declaration form both in 2019 and 2023,” the sources told LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP gathered that CCB has commenced an investigation into the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers regarding the scandal rocking the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The letter of sighted by LEADERSHIP states that Tunji-Ojo’s invitation is not unconnected with the alleged breach of public office rules, conduct and corruption rocking the ministry.
The letter of invitation was signed by the CCB director, Intelligence, Investigation and Monitoring, S.P. Gwimi
The minister, it was gathered, is to appear before the bureau today at the headquarters located at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
The minister has been in the news recently over alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, particularly, conflict of interest in the execution of contract awarded to a company allegedly belonging to him by the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
A company named New Planet Projects, allegedly belonging to the minister, reportedly benefitted from the contract scam from the ministry.
The CCB head of press and public relations, Kato Veronica, confirmed the invitation of the minister, stating that it was in line with the mandate of the bureau.
