Company Owned By Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Allegedly Got ₦438Million As ‘Consultancy Fees’ From Betta Edu

A company owned by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was allegedly paid a total amount of ₦438.1 million by the suspended Minister of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, for consultancy services.

The company, New Planet Project Limited was one of the numerous consultants awarded contracts from ₦3 billion given out by the suspended minister for the National Social Register contract.

In a document posted by the editor of a media platform, Pointblank News, Jackson Ude, Tunji-Ojo’s New Planet Project Limited was initially paid ₦279 million for verification of the list and another ₦159 million for the same purpose.

However, a source told SaharaReporters that the interior minister may have got the contract through his former aide and coordinator of the National Programme Manager, Grant For Vulnerable Groups, Thalis Apalowo.

Apalowo served as a legislative aide to Tunji-Ojo while he was representing Akoko North Federal constituency at the National Assembly.

“He was the one who lobbied for his appointment as coordinator of programme under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, he is his close aide,” the source told SaharaReporters.

The source said Apalowo was one of the minister’s advanced team, who received ₦2,515,000 for DTA for five nights, local running @30% of DTA, for flight tickets and airport taxis to Kogi state.

Other beneficiaries of the ₦3 billion contract include Fabunmi Olanipekun & Co. which got ₦419.5 million. Vintsolve Global Consult was also paid ₦558.8 million.

While Periscope Consulting got ₦277 million, Blue Trend Enterprise was ₦277.8 million, Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services got ₦277 million, Memak Nigeria Limited was paid ₦277 million, MC Van Management Consult Limited got ₦275.8 million while Danzinger Nigeria Limited- ₦275.8 million.

In a Twitter post, Ude said: “Other companies that benefitted from the ₦3billion contracts are: Blue Trend Enterprise-N277.8million.

“Blue trend, has no record of being registered and the owner is unknown. Periscope Consulting-N277million. Periscope Consulting, with registration number 1053019, registered on July 24, 2012, is owned by one Ngozi Maureen Ojiego, known for Interior Decoration. Laitop Dynamics Interlink Services Ltd-N277million.

“Laitop with registration number 1340092, is owned by one Quburat Bolanle Bolanta. It was registered on June 6, 2016. Memak Nigeria Limited with no known ownership and date of registration got NN277million.

“MC Van Management Consult Limited with no records of registration also got ₦275.8million contract while Danzinger Nigeria Limited with registration number 635448, registered on Sep 23, 2005got ₦275.8million. Danzinger is owned by one Oladapo Rotimi Mohammed.

“All the contractors claimed they verified 11 million homes in Nigeria under one month.”