AREWA GROUP CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF INTERIOR MINISTER OVER ALLEGED FRAUD

Arewa Group Calls for Suspension of Interior Minister Over Alleged Fraud

The Arewa Consultative Movement demands President Bola Tinubu to suspend Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo amid accusations of links to a fraud scandal in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Minister For Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo 

The Arewa Consultative Movement (ACM) has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, citing alleged involvement in a fraud scheme within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The ACM, led by National Coordinator Comrade Bilal Galadima, delivered this demand during a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday.

In an open letter to President Tinubu, the ACM coordinator emphasized the need for Tunji-Ojo's suspension, accusing him of "abuse of office" and violation of established rules. The group expressed its intention to organize protests in Kaduna and Abuja if the President fails to take action.

The ACM's concerns revolve around a contract awarded to New Planet Project Limited, a company in which Tunji-Ojo allegedly has a vested interest. Galadima disclosed that over 50 groups plan to join mass protests scheduled for Friday and Monday in Kaduna and Abuja.

New Planet Project Limited, co-directed by Tunji-Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, reportedly received N438.1 million for consultancy services from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The funds were part of the N3 billion allocated for cash transfers and social investment programs targeting vulnerable Nigerians.

The ACM contends that Tunji-Ojo's actions violate the Nigerian Constitution and the Code of Conduct law, particularly Sections 5 and 6, which prohibit public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in businesses other than farming.

In response to the allegations, Tunji-Ojo asserted that he founded New Planet Project Limited approximately 15 years ago but resigned as its director after his election in 2019. The controversy surrounding the minister's alleged involvement in the fraud continues to escalate as calls for accountability intensify.