The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is urging President Bola Tinubu to take action and suspend Bunmi Tunji-Ojo from the role of Minister of Interior.

PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba called on Tinubu yesterday to swiftly investigate and potentially prosecute the minister, alleging Tunji-Ojo’s role in a contract controversy at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. A leaked document disclosed a N438 million consultancy contract awarded to Tunji-Ojo’s company, New Planet Project Limited.

Rejecting any misconduct allegations, the minister clarified that he stepped down from the company in February 2019 upon being elected as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives. While no longer a director, he acknowledged maintaining a shareholder status. In response to the controversy, Betta Edu was suspended as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on Monday.

The PDP said Tunji-Ojo made a “lame excuse” by “claiming” that he has no interest in the company “despite his confession of owning huge shares in the firm”. “The Party describes as inexcusable that the two ministers directly entrusted with the wellbeing of Nigerians reportedly used a company in which the Minister of Interior has a huge interest to allegedly siphon funds meant for poor Nigerians under the guise of consultancy fee for unsubstantiated verification of households in the country,” the statement reads.

The PDP said the “only way” Tinubu can reassure Nigerians is to immediately relieve the minister of his appointment and allow for an independent inquiry into the disbursement of the N438 million.