₦7.89 Million Birthday Trio Payment, ₦9.56 Million Sourvenir Bill Put Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo’s Interior Ministry Spending Under Scrutiny

Payment records examined have raised questions about Federal Ministry of Interior expenditure associated with Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s travel to Ondo State and a subsequent purchase of branded souvenirs for his office.

The ministry paid ₦7,889,000 on 16 November 2023 to Ayandele Rafiu Niyi. The payment description identified the sum as duty tour allowance for the minister’s trip to Ondo State for a 70th birthday and 17th coronation anniversary celebration. The record reportedly stated that the payment was made in favour of Funmi Ige and 13 others, indicating 14 beneficiaries.

The central compliance question is whether the expenditure was authorised for official government business and properly supported by documentation. The report characterises the event as a private celebration, but the payment entry alone does not establish the full circumstances of the trip or whether any official duties were also undertaken.

The investigation also identified a separate payment of ₦9,559,800 made on 31 October 2025 to Coligula Limited for the supply of branded souvenirs for the minister’s office. According to the report, the records examined did not include a distribution list or inventory of the items supplied. The company was reported to be registered in 2019 and listed as active on Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission portal.

The report further identified a payment of ₦6,234,500 to Ayandele on 23 November 2023, described as duty tour allowance for the minister’s re-invitation to a public-private sector dialogue in Lagos, covering Funmi Ige and 25 others. Together, the two November payments totalled ₦14,123,500 within seven days.

Three payments totaled ₦18,880,000 to Inedu M. Keche over 11 days in late 2023, with descriptions relating to the minister’s entourage, travel allowances and a commissioning in Lagos.

The records, establish that these payments were made. Findings were based on Federal Ministry of Interior headquarters payment records covering October 2023 to June 2026. The outstanding accountability questions concern the official justification for the Ondo trip, supporting receipts and retirement documents for the allowances, and evidence confirming the delivery and distribution of the souvenirs.

A response from the minister and the ministry would be necessary to clarify the purpose, authorisation and documentation of the expenditure.