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NDDC, NYSC, Beta-Edu saga: The many scandals of interior minister, Tunji-Ojo
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is facing scrutiny due to his connections with the scandal surrounding the Humanitarian Ministry. His company, New Planet Project, received substantial consultancy fees from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, raising concerns and calls for his suspension.
President Bola Tinubu has already suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and all programs under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). The fate of Tunji-Ojo, however, has sparked divided public opinions.
While some argue for his suspension, drawing parallels with Edu, others praise his contributions to reforming the international passport process and advocate for his leniency. The minister contends that he resigned from his company in 2019, following his election to the House of Representatives, aligning with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Critics dispute this, emphasizing his continued ownership and a potential conflict of interest.
Tunji-Ojo has faced previous scandals, including allegations during the NDDC probe, where his company was reported as a beneficiary of questionable contracts. He recused himself from the investigation due to corruption allegations. Another scandal involved scrutiny over his NYSC certificate during ministerial screening, but he was cleared by the Senate.
Despite the ongoing scandal, Tunji-Ojo’s strategy involves addressing issues over time, and his relationship with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, may be a factor in his favor. During an interview, he reiterated his resignation in 2019, complying with the Code of Conduct rules.
Reports suggest that Tunji-Ojo failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau as scheduled, requesting a new date for his appearance. The situation continues to unfold, with opinions divided on the minister’s actions and the appropriate course of action.
On Monday, a Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja issued a temporary order preventing Multichoice Nigeria Limited, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, from raising their tariffs and the prices of their products and services, which were set to commence on May 1.
The three-member tribunal, led by Saratu Shafii, granted the interim injunction after an ex-parte motion presented by Ejiro Awaritoma, the counsel representing Festus Onifade, the applicant.
In its ruling, the tribunal instructed Multichoice to halt its planned price hike scheduled to take effect from May 1 until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Shafii emphasized, “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any action(s) that may adversely impact the rights of the claimant and other consumers regarding the case until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
The tribunal directed all involved parties to appear before it on May 7 at 10 am for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Onifade, in the case labeled: CCPT/OP/2/2024, brought Multichoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) before the tribunal.
In the lawsuit filed on April 29, Onifade, who is also a legal practitioner, sought two injunctions:
- An interim injunction to prevent the 1st defendant from implementing the impending price increase scheduled for May 1, 2024, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
- An injunction to prevent the 1st defendant from taking any actions that might harm the rights of the claimant and other consumers concerning the case, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The other members of the tribunal include Thomas Okosun and Dr. Umar Duhu.
The 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results have been released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to DAILY POST, the examination was taken by over 1.94 million candidates across 118 towns and over 700 centers nationwide.
During the announcement of the results in Bwari, Abuja, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that a total of 1,989,668 candidates registered for the exam, marking a 24.7 percent increase compared to 2023. Among the registered candidates, 1,904,189 were present and verified, 2,899 were present but not verified, and 80,810 were absent.
Finidi George has been appointed as the new coach of the Super Eagles.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Finidi’s appointment on Monday in a statement on its official website.
The statement reads in part,
The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.
George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
CREDIT: mcebiscoo
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