Tunji-Ojo Denies Involvement in N585 Million Scandal Linked to Betta Edu’s Contract.

Dr. Betta Chimaobim Edu

"The Berta Edu situation is best described as diversionary, aimed at removing attention from the major issue at stake." Stakeholders

With the media awash with the alleged #585m scandal involving the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, now under suspension from office by the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, local investigators have hit the streets with insinuations that tend to drag the Minister of Interior Affairs, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo into the whole saga.

However, in a swift and timely reaction, Tunji-Ojo has denounced whatsoever, any involvement in the scandal trailing his counterpart in the alleged financial scandal.

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has vehemently, denied any association with the said company allegedly linked to the controversial contract from the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.

It is recalled that a company allegedly linked with Dr Tunji-Ojo; "New Planet Project Limited," allegedly received N438 million as ‘consultancy fees’ from the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Dr Betta Edu.

In trying to exonerate himself from the alleged financial scandal, Dr. Olubunmi
Tunji-Ojo gave clarifications when he appearer in an interview on Channels Television’s  programme, 'Politics Today' saying that he is not a signatory to the company in question.

The Interior Affairs Minister however, did not deny ownership of the company.

Reports in the news circle reveals that 'New Planet Project Limited' was among the consultants awarded contracts totaling N3 billion for the National Social Register contract, aimed at facilitating cash transfers and other social investment programs.

Findings reveal that the alleged financial scandal blew into the open following a purported directive from Dr Betta Edu, as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to the Accountant General of the Federation to transfer "public funds" amounting to N585,198,500.00 to a private account belonging to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, identified as a "project manager" for one of the programmes initiated by the Ministry.

In his reaction to the allegations, Dr Tunji-Ojo stated firmly, “I am not a signatory to the company.” 

However, political observers have decried the swift change in the narrative been churned out, describing the Berta Edu situation as diversionary, aimed at removing attention from the major issue at stake.

A respondent who spoke with this medium at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, Munir Mustapha expressed his disappointment with Nigerians including Mr. President, for allowing their attention to be this dragged away from the real issue at stake.

 

"Since when has #585m become bigger than #40bn," he queried? The story  of Betta Edu is in the lips of everyone whereas there are bigger issues as it relates to Sadiya Umar Farouq, the immediate past Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. Look at the Halima Shehu issue that involves almost #40bn but we are all more concerned about the payment of #585m into the personal account of the Project Accountant. 

Mustapha expressed his pains and deep disappointment with all those trying to cause confusion in the country noting that, "You can fool some of the people but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."