The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over his alleged role in the attempt to steal monies meant for vulnerable Nigerians in the country.

The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Danesi Momoh in a statement insisted that since the Minister’s firm, Planet Project Limited was implicated in the malfeasance, he cannot extricate himself from the unlawful act.

The group contended that Tunji -Ojo’s explanations and defence of not being involved in the running of the company, New Planet Project Limited, has no logic and does not change the fact of the offense of conflict of interest by a Public Official, contrary to the provisions of Public Service Rules and Code of Conduct Act.

“Indeed, he is in the opinion of nonpartisan public, in breach these Rule and Act,” it noted.

“However, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is more than a mere passing accomplice. The involvement of a Company he founded, remains the highest shareholder, and his wife, a Director is indicative of a direct involvement in the organized fleecing of the Ministry under reference.

“The fact that he remains the highest shareholder of the company; the evidence that his wife is a Director of the company; the suggestion by the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission that he is still a Director of the company; the incontrovertability of a very close and sometimes, more than official relationship between him and Dr. Edu; the tendency that there may be companies linked to Dr. Edu that are into business in the Ministry of Interior, all prove that no justice can be said to be done in this matter except if equal treatment is meted on Dr. Edu and Hon. Tunji-Ojo.

“Consequently, Hon. Tunji-Ojo should immediately be suspended (at most before the close of work on Friday, January 12, 2024) and his activities, scrutinized. We urge Mr. President, to complete this good work by placing the Minister of Interior on Suspension while investigation continues.”

The group thereby threatened to mobilize the unemployed youths who are the worst hit by these financial malfeasance to occupy the Ministry of Interior till he resigns or is sacked.

It noted that “nobody will sweep this matter under the carpet. It is either Mr. President does it correctly or every other effort will be considered useless. This should not be.

“We are aware that the whole plan is to make Dr. Betta Edu the scape goat or fall guy of this mess. That will be resisted because even if Dr. Edu accepts that, it will amount to an injustice to the State and society. Our duty will be to call attention to this through protests till Mr. President sees the need to serve justice fully.

“In this quest for a comprehensive justice and cleansing of the polluted sociopolitical space, we also call on Mr. President not to spare the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan.

“As the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry, what did he do? Was this money moved without his knowledge? What professional advice did he give? How was it possible to carry out these transactions without his knowledge?

“Is he a conspirator, a lukewarm witness to a crime, and unaware bystander or an incompetent Permanent Secretary? We must expand this investigation. This is a total mess and no culprit must go unpunished or benefit from their own crimes.

“The public would also wish to know exactly the role of the suspended Coordinator of National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Mrs. Halima Saleh in this matter. Was she part of this crime or was she really trying to prevent the Minister from looting everything? All we want is justice for all involved (the accused, the State and the Society). And that, we shall pursue to the end.”

The group commended President Tinubu for swiftly rising to the occasion by suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Chimaobi Edu and ordering an investigation into the matter.

This, it noted was a clear departure from the earlier practice of covering corruption by past administrations.