The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has vehemently refuted claims of being the owner of New Planet Projects Limited, a company allegedly awarded a contract worth N438 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The controversial “consultancy fees” were reportedly disbursed by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
Tunji-Ojo, denying any association with the company, asserted that he resigned as a director in 2019. He attributed the confusion to the Corporate Affairs Commission’s failure to update its website regarding his resignation.
During an interview with Channels Television, the minister emphasized his commitment to transparency and stated, “Nigerians don’t deserve to be kept in the dark in terms of public office operations.”
Explaining the history of his involvement with New Planet Projects Limited, Tunji-Ojo clarified that he and his wife founded the company 15 years ago. He resigned as a director in 2019 upon assuming office as a member of the House of Representatives.
Tunji-Ojo insisted that he is solely a shareholder and emphasized that this does not violate any laws.
Despite the minister’s denial, Ripples Nigeria reported that Thalis Apalowo, the National Programme Manager for Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG), had served as Tunji-Ojo’s legislative aide when he was in the House of Representatives.
Sources claim that Tunji-Ojo played a role in Apalowo’s appointment to the GVG position. It is alleged that Apalowo’s close association with the Interior Minister facilitated the consultancy contract for New Planet Projects Limited within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
