Tinubu told to immediately suspend minister Tunji-Ojo, details emerge

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, January 9, asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately "relieve" the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of his duties.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, called on Nigerian authorities to investigate and possibly prosecute Tunji-Ojo.

A leaked memo showed that a firm linked to Tunji-Ojo received a sum labelled as ‘consultancy fees’ from the humanitarian affairs ministry.

PDP demands suspension, probe of Tunji-Ojo

Legit.ng reports that amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged N585 million fraud by the suspended humanitarian affairs minister, Beta Edu, Tunji-Ojo has come under intense scrutiny and criticisms over alleged violations of public service rules involving contract influencing.

Tunji-Ojo was accused of using his office to secure a project for New Planet Project Limited, which he founded.

According to reports, New Planet Project Limited was one of the consultants awarded contracts worth over N2 billion by the suspended minister in charge of the national social register.

The social register was created for cash transfers and other social investment programmes.

Legit.ng also sighted a circulating document (not signed) showing that New Planet Project Limited was paid N438 million as “consultancy fees.”

This sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), as some also called for him to be sanctioned. Nigeria's main opposition party, the PDP, joined that call.

The PDP's statement partly reads: "The continuing stay in office of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior can only further confirm PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led APC administration is a haven for treasury looters.

"The PDP asserts that the only way President Tinubu can reassure Nigerians is to immediately relieve the Minister of Interior and allow for an independent inquiry into the disbursement of the N438 million with the view to not only exposing and prosecuting all those involved in the alleged scam but also to recover and channel the money for the wellbeing of Nigerians."