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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
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Katsina State have successfully rescued six kidnapped victims after intercepting an armed bandit attack on Yankara-Funtua highway in Faskari Local Government Area.
Sources said on Jan. 24 at about 1:25 a.m., unidentified armed bandits blocked the highway and abducted six occupants of a green Honda Civic, registration number AAA 518 BC, en route from Funtua to Faskari.
The DPO Faskari, on routine patrol, promptly engaged the hoodlums in a tactical gunfight.
The bandits were overpowered and fled into the bush, abandoning their mission. All six victims, Rabi Hamisu, Safare Musa, Abubakar Samaila, Shehu Umar, Sara’u Yahaya, and Ibrahim Babangida, were rescued unharmed and safely returned to their homes.
Intensive patrols continue in the area, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
Suspect arrested for trespassing, attempting robbery at Bauchi Emir’s palace
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old man, Umar Hamza, was apprehended Wednesday night for trespassing and attempting to steal from the Emir of Bauchi’s residence.
Sources said Hamza entered one of the Emir’s son’s rooms carrying a bunch of keys and tried to commit theft around 8:20 p.m. on January 23.
He was intercepted shortly after the act and taken into the Police custody for questioning.
Police said Preliminary inquiries indicate the suspect intended to steal from the palace.
Suspect arrested for trespassing, attempting robbery at Bauchi Emir’s palace
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja, Says Nigeria Firmly Back On Global Economic Frontline
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after a week-long diplomatic and economic mission to Guinea-Conakry and Switzerland.
This is just as he said Nigeria has reclaimed a frontline seat in global and regional policy conversations.
VP Shettima arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea’s President, Mamadi Doumbouya, and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.
According to the Vice President, the trip is part of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to regional solidarity in West Africa and its determination to reposition the economy under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The Vice President had departed Abuja for Conakry, where he attended President Doumbouya’s inauguration, reaffirming Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS, while opening new pathways for bilateral cooperation in agriculture and manufacturing.
From Guinea-Conakry, Senator Shettima proceeded to Davos, Switzerland, where he led the Nigerian delegation at the WEF 2026.
One of the highpoints of his engagements in that country was the commissioning of Nigeria House Davos, the Nigeria’s first-ever sovereign pavilion on the Davos Promenade, designed as a permanent investment hub showcasing opportunities in solid minerals, agriculture and the digital economy.
At a high-level WEF session titled, “When Food Becomes Security,” the Vice President outlined Nigeria’s new national food security framework, describing agriculture as a strategic pillar of national security and macroeconomic stability.
Vice President Shettima also joined former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, to advance the Accra Reset Initiative, a forum advocating African industrialisation driven by domestic capital and value chains rather than foreign aid.
On the economic front, the Vice President told investors that Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators were stabilising, citing a projected 4.4 per cent GDP growth in 2026 and a decline in inflation to 12.94 per cent.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s imminent transition into a net exporter of refined petroleum products, anchored by the Dangote Refinery, and the growing export of digital talent.
VP Shettima Returns To Abuja, Says Nigeria Firmly Back On Global Economic Frontline
Police repel bandits, rescue six kidnapped victims on Yankara-Funtua highway in Katsina
Bandits abduct another four occupants of charcoal-laden vehicle in Kajuru LGA in Kaduna
Nobody is replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima. Tinubu affirms he remains the best and envisions a strategic partnership for Nigeria’s future.
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