The Human Rights Lawyers’ Organization, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), commends the Senate for upholding justice and fairness by confirming Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as a minister. Despite attempts at blackmail, the Senate stood firm in its decision.
On Monday evening, the Senate confirmed Rep. Tunji-Ojo, the current representative of Akoko North East/Akoko Northwest Federal Constituency of Ondo State, along with 44 other ministerial nominees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Despite the pressure, including from a legal group, to halt his confirmation due to alleged discrepancies in his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, the Senate remained resolute.
Following the confirmation, Edward Omaga, the president of the Network, and Denning Akori, the director of Legal Services, addressed journalists at the National Assembly.
They revealed that they were present at the Senate to monitor the proceedings on behalf of the group. Their presence followed preliminary investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disputed NYSC certificate.
“One of the noblest things this 10th Assembly has done is not to condone mischiefs and blackmails. The Senate, though gives the public listening ears in matters of national concerns, but must also take its time to do proper investigation and crosscheck facts, so the institution won’t be misled.
“The nomination of Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the controversies around it is one that has caught our attention, knowing the calibers of people peddling issues around and calling on the Senate not to confirm him as Minister. We thank God the Senate did not listen to them. We hail the Senate for living above board.
“Rep. Tunji-Ojo, though we have not met him or had personal contact with him before now, we understand has been a Member of the 9th House of Representatives and served as chairman of, the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He contested again in 2023 and won convincingly. In each of the elections, he submitted his details to INEC. Where were these elements then? Why didn’t they raise issues?
“We have taken the pains of doing some background checks and our findings are pointing towards the direction that the young man is being unjustly witch-hunted, for the simple reason that some people do not sanction his nomination.
“How long shall we continue to sacrifice competence and versatility on the altar of politics and sentiments?,” the Lawyers said.
The organization pledged its ongoing commitment to support the National Assembly and other government institutions in conducting thorough investigations. If any allegations are substantiated against anyone, regardless of their status, the group asserts its willingness to take appropriate actions.
Speaking further, Omaga said, “Remember, in 2021, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/732/2021 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Global Integrity Crusade Network urged the Court to order the arrest of Kemi Adeosun, a former Nigerian Finance minister.
“We did that in good spirit, having done proper investigation of the alleged certificate forgery, even years after she had resigned. That’s to prove to you that we are not pro government. We are with the masses, but it should also be known that we would support the masses only when issues at hand are not clothed with political undertones.
“Just last week, a group of Lawyers who have been dragging the executive secretary of TETFUND, Sonny Echono, accusing him of corruption and even gave him ultimatum to resign; came out with a statement to apologise to Echono and even declared support for him, saying they had done investigation and noticed that they ‘were misled’. We need to be careful with such groups that would run to the press without doing proper X-ray of their facts.”
