News
BETTAGATE: NEFGAD Threatens Legal Action Against Tunji-Ojo, Insists on His Apology and Resignation
BETTAGATE: NEFGAD Threatens Legal Action Against Tunji-Ojo, Insists on His Apology and Resignation
By: Michael Mike
Network for Growth and actualization of Viable Development (NEFGAD), a public procurement advocacy group has threatened to take legal action against the embattled Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s over his involvement in the controversial N3 billion contract awarded by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, insisting that his defense his faulty and unsatisfactory.
The Minister had denied personally benefitting through his company, New Planet Project Limited from the sum of 438.1 million from the alleged controversial N3 billion social register contracts by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
NEFGAD in a statement signed by its acting Head of Legal, Dolapo Obafunmi and released to the media at the weekend in Abuja stated that Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who is a shareholder in the New Planet Project Limited contravened section 16 subsection 6(f) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 by failing to accompany documents used in bidding for the contract with an affidavit disclosing whether or not Dr. Betta Edu who is a member of the procuring entity has any pecuniary interest in New Planet Project Limited – the company where Mr. Tunji-Ojo, a cabinet colleague, is a shareholder.
Obafunmi also said that Mr. Tunji-Ojo’s company bid ought to have been disqualified for violating section 16 subsection 8(g) of the same PPA by failing to submit a statement regarding its dominating or subsidiary relationships with respect to Dr. Beta Edu who is acting on behalf of the procuring entity participating in same proceeding.
Obafunmi noted that New planet Project Limited, with registration number 804833 was reportedly registered on March 3, 2009, although the Minister said he has resigned as director of the company since 2019 but he is still a shareholder in the company.
Obafunmi said that the public procurement Act in its bid to promote competition forbids a bidder and or any member of procuring entity from conferring undue advantage to themselves during any procurement proceeding by virtue of their relationships.
He averred that one of the core objectives and spirit of the public procurement Law is to ensure that nation’s wealth is fairly distributed, maintaining that it is a sheer act of undue interference, greed and avarice to have a serving cabinet member interfering in affairs of sister Ministry to an extent of influencing its procurement decision in his favour.
He further maintained that beyond participating in the day to day running of a company, being a shareholder means Mr Tunji-Ojo is a person of control and benefit in the company and by virtue of his shareholding status, he ought to have simply complied with the relevant sections of the public procurement law by declaring his interest in the company simply via a court affidavit.
Obafunmi said ‘’with these blatant breaches, it shows clearly that fundamental principles of public procurement were not followed in the award of the contract, everything about the contract is defective, making it impossible to achieve fitness of purpose or value for money.
He said: “Mr. Tunji Ojo should also know that his cabinet membership is ordinarily influential enough to sway cabinet colleague’s procurement decision in his favour hence calling the Minister to honorably apologise to Nigerians and resign immediately or face legal action.
BETTAGATE: NEFGAD Threatens Legal Action Against Tunji-Ojo, Insists on His Apology and Resignation
News
GOC 1 Division visits Ariko community in Kaduna after church attack, urges stronger local vigilance
GOC 1 Division visits Ariko community in Kaduna after church attack, urges stronger local vigilance
By: Zagazola Makama
The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma has visited Ariko village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State following an attack on an ECWA Church in the area.
Security sources said the visit on April 5 was aimed at conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and engaging with community stakeholders on measures to strengthen security.
During the visit, the GOC toured the affected church, surrounding areas, and access routes into and out of the village to assess operational challenges faced during response efforts.
He also met with the traditional ruler of Kachia, youth leaders, and other residents, where he commiserated with them over the attack and assured them of continued security support.
The GOC commended troops for their swift response, which led to the rescue of some hostages during the incident.
He further urged residents to strengthen local vigilance structures, including the formation of community vigilante groups to serve as first responders in emergencies.
He also advised that communities consider closer coordination among nearby churches with security coverage, while additional security measures are being implemented to enhance protection of lives and property.
GOC 1 Division visits Ariko community in Kaduna after church attack, urges stronger local vigilance
News
GOC 82 Division, senior commanders visit troops in Orsu, assess operational progress at “Mother Valley”
GOC 82 Division, senior commanders visit troops in Orsu, assess operational progress at “Mother Valley”
By: Zagazola Makama
The General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Task Force South-East Operation UDO KA, Maj.-Gen. OA Fadairo, alongside the Chief of Army Staff (Administration), Maj.-Gen. T.B. Ugiagbe, have visited troops deployed at Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State to assess ongoing operations in the area.
Security sources said the visit on April 5 was aimed at obtaining first-hand information on operational activities around the area popularly referred to as the “Mother Valley”.
The team was received by the Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade Garrison, Lt.-Col. J. Abu.
During the visit, the senior officers were briefed on operational successes recorded, key achievements, and challenges encountered by troops in the course of ongoing clearance operations.
They were also conducted on a guided tour of key locations around the area, including strategic observation points overlooking the “Mother Valley”, where they assessed the extent of terrain covered and areas cleared by troops.
The assessment, according to security sources, was intended to support further deployment planning aimed at denying criminal elements suspected to be linked to Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing Eastern Security Network freedom of action within the locality.
The visit was conducted without any security incident.
GOC 82 Division, senior commanders visit troops in Orsu, assess operational progress at “Mother Valley”
Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised a suspected insurgent and recovered several logistics items during a successful ambush operation in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 2:30 a.m. on April 6, 2026, by an ambush team of E Company, 192 Battalion, deployed at Forward Operating Base Pulka, in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
The troops, while in ambush position around Zubulum village along the Pulka–Rawa road, came into contact with suspected logistics elements of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
The troops engaged the insurgents with sustained firepower, neutralising one of them, while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds.
No casualty was recorded among the troops.
Items recovered from the scene included about 350 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, a bag of salt, a roll of vaseline, slippers, detergent, sachets of milk, eight pieces of clothing materials, two microphones and four copies of the Holy Qur’an.
The sources said the recovered items indicated that the fleeing insurgents were on a logistics mission.
Troops subsequently exploited the area and returned to base at about 8:15 a.m.
The attackers are believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram
Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka
GOC 1 Division visits Ariko community in Kaduna after church attack, urges stronger local vigilance
GOC 82 Division, senior commanders visit troops in Orsu, assess operational progress at “Mother Valley”
Borno: troops neutralise insurgent, recover logistics items in ambush operation near Pulka
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
