- To report at EFCC today
- I’m not involved in N438m contract scandal – Interior minister
- President sacks BPE, FCCPC chiefs
- Curtail excesses of emerging political cartel, Ndume tells Tinubu
Few hours after President Bola Tinubu suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, over an alleged misappropriation of N585 million, the President on Monday sacked the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, and the Director-General/CEO of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Alexander Okoh with immediate effect.
A statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed that Monday’s dismissals are “in conformity with plans to restructure and reposition critical agencies of the Federal Government towards protecting the rights of Nigerian consumers and providing a strong basis for enhanced contributions to the nation’s economy by key growth-enabling institutions.”
Ngelale noted that the “two dismissed Chief Executives are directed to hand over to the next most senior officer in their respective agencies, pending the appointment of new Chief Executive Officers.”
Betta Edu to report at EFCC today
The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has been mandated to report at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Jabi, Abuja on Tuesday, January 9.
Edu was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Monday over an alleged N585m scandal.
The embattled minister was invited by the anti-graft agency in compliance with Tinubu’s order that a comprehensive investigation encompassing her activities in the ministry be carried out, a top source in the anti-graft commission told reporters.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview on Monday a senior EFCC official said, “Betta Edu has been mandated to report to the commission (EFCC) tomorrow.”
I’m not involved in N438m contract – Interior Minister
In a related development, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has denied involvement in the N438.1 million consultancy contracts between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Reacting, Tunji-Ojo while appearing on a live television programme on Monday night revealed that he founded the company 10 years ago, but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for the House of Representatives.
The Minister of Interior, who described the report as shocking, said he is just a shareholder in the company and not involved in the day-to-day running of New Planet Project Limited.
He said “I have to say this, I saw it and I was shocked because the company in question was a company, where I was the director.
“About five years ago, I resigned my directorship. Yes, I founded the company 10 years ago. In 2019 and when I got to the House of Representatives, when I won the election precisely, I resigned. I resigned on the 4th of February 2019 with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.
Tunji-Ojo, who said he came into public office knowing fully well that Nigerians would ask questions, charged relevant agencies to probe the contract processes.
He added, “I do not run the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the contract. I am not a signatory to any account. I am not a director of the company.
“The company is a limited liability company, which is a private entity. So if the company is a private entity, of course, I am still a shareholder, and to the best of my knowledge public service rules do not prohibit public officers from being shareholders.
“What public service rule says is that you cannot be a director, of which I had resigned about five years ago.
“I have no business with it, absolutely no business, because I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the company. I do not pursue jobs for the company. I do not bid for the company. I am not a signatory to the company’s account. I am not involved.
“So the company is an entity on its own. If so, the question should be was the job given to the company? If the answer is yes, then the question is did they follow due process? It is a yes. Did the company deliver on the job? If it’s a yes, then number three is that they did deliver in line with the agreement of the contract? If it is a no, then they should be sanctioned by the book”.
Curtail excesses of emerging political cartel, Ndume tells President
Meanwhile, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, on Monday, commended President Bola Tinubu for suspending the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
This was just as he said Tinubu’s suspension of Edu was a timely action.
He also advised the President to immediately curtail the excesses of what it called an emerging political cartel and warned that it may be worse than a cabal if unchecked.
In a telephone conversation on Monday, Ndume said the alleged fraud committed by the suspended Minister may not be isolated.
He warned that if unchecked, the emerging political cartel may destabilise the administration of the President.
The Borno South senator maintained that for Tinubu to succeed and deliver on his Renewed Hope Agenda, some tough decisions must be taken and some elements curtailed within the administration.
He said the prompt suspension of Edu is a confirmation that Tinubu is serious about tackling corruption and eliminating waste within the administration.
Ndume said the move will restore confidence in his government and Nigerians will begin to take his administration seriously.
He said, “What President Tinubu has done is very timely. The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is a welcome development. It will allow the relevant agencies to conduct a proper investigation.
“Some people in the same position as Tinubu would not have acted. But as a leader, who is in charge, he acted swiftly and the minister has been suspended. We should commend the President. This is something Nigerians should commend.”
He, however, added, “But the President should not stop there. There is an emerging political cartel within the corridors of power. The President must act swiftly and dismantle the cartel.
“If they’re not stopped, they’ll be stronger and worse than the cabal. The President must not allow that to happen. I don’t think what the minister did was an isolated case. I don’t think she acted alone.
“The President needs to look deep and flush out those involved in mismanaging the funds meant for humanitarian assistance. We’re hopeful that the President will take more decisive actions in the future.”
