ASHENEWS recalls the suspension of Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, following her reported request to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer ₦585.2 million into a private account.
This platform further recalls that Edu was consequently invitated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to explain the controversial request.
Meanwhile, New Planet Project Ltd, a company reportedly owned by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has been mentioned to have been awarded consultancy contract by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under Betta Edu.
Tunji-Ojo is being asked to resign or be suspended by President Bola Tinubu, since after the consultancy contract.
According to a crosssection of the public, he has flouted the Public Service Rules, which bars public servants from accepting contract awards or engaging in any business except farming.
However, reacting to the attacks while speaking on ChannelsTV, Tunji-Ojo explained that he had resigned since 2009 from the company.
“Almost five years ago, I resigned as director of the company, so I’m not a director. I resigned on 1st of February, 2009, you can go to the back,” the Minister told ChannelsTV.
Also joining in defence of Tunji-Ojo, a former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, in a chat with THE WHISTLER, also faulted the calls for the minister’s resignation.
“Going by the facts presented by Hon Ojo (Tunji-Ojo), he had since 2019 resigned from the company that was mentioned as beneficiary.
“It could have been a conflict of interest if he hadn’t resigned.
“There is no law that says public officials must sell all their shares when they assume public office,” he said.
Confirming his position, Sani insisted that the minister flouted no law because the 2008 Federal Service Rules on Chapter 4 provides that “Public officers are not prohibited from holding shares in both public and private companies operating in Nigeria or abroad except that they must not be Directors in private companies, and may only be Directors in public companies if nominated by Government.”
According to the Senator, “It’s not his ministry (that awarded contracts), and companies have the right to pursue businesses anywhere.
“Edu’s case is very clear and can’t be equated with that of a company associated with Hon Ojo.
“Legally, he can’t be held to account on this matter.
“Let’s not be distracted,” Sani said.
Similarly, a senior lawyer, Nelson Kebordih, posted that “The extant provision of the law under the 1999 Constitution is that anybody who is a public servant cannot engage in any business other than farming.
“The implication of the law is that a person must be in active control and directorship of the company in the management of any enterprise.
“You are permitted to own shares because owning a share does not put you in the day-to-day management of the company or any enterprise.
“It is the directorship of the company that is an issue.
“If he (Tunji-Ojo) has resigned from being a director, the law does not stop him from owning shares in the company,” he stated.
