By Mohammed Bello Doka
The Northern Youth Council, led by President Wahab Adamu, has demanded the immediate removal of Interior Minister Olubunmi Ojo in light of the group's allegations linking him to the corruption scandal that resulted in the suspension of Betta Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
In a detailed statement, President Wahab Adamu expressed the group's concern over Minister Ojo's purported connection to the misappropriation of funds related to Betta Edu's alleged N3 billion social register scam. The statement disclosed that a staggering N438.1 million from Edu's scheme found its way to New Planet Project Limited, a company exclusively owned and operated by Minister Ojo. The said company, registered on March 3, 2009, under registration number 804833, reportedly received N279 million for list verification and an additional N159 million for the same purpose.
The revelation further unveiled that New Planet Project Limited listed Minister Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, as directors, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and violation of the Nigerian Constitution and Code of Conduct laws. The Code of Conduct law, as specified in sections 5 and 6, explicitly prohibits public officers from engaging in activities that pose conflicts of interest and restricts them from participating in businesses beyond farming.
The Northern Youth Council firmly asserted its stance against such actions, stating that both Betta Edu and Olubunmi Ojo are impeding the efforts of President Tinubu to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged. The group's statement, released on Monday, denounced what they described as "ignoble crass corruption and embezzlement" masterminded by Edu and Ojo.
Additionally, a source revealed that Minister Ojo may have secured the contract through his former aide, Thalis Apalowo, who played a pivotal role in Ojo's appointment as the coordinator of the National Programme Manager under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Apalowo, a legislative aide to Ojo during his tenure representing Akoko North Federal constituency at the National Assembly, allegedly lobbied for the appointment.
The statement applauded the swift suspension of Halima Shehu and Betta Edu, expressing gratitude for President Tinubu's prompt action. The Northern Youth Council, however, emphasized the need for consistent and decisive measures by calling for Minister Olubunmi Ojo's immediate dismissal. The group concluded by reiterating its commitment to monitoring and addressing corruption within the government to uphold the expectations of the Nigerian people.
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