Nigerians in the United Kingdom under the platform of Concerned Nigerians in the Diaspora United Kingdom (CND-UK) have vowed to intensify their campaign against corrupt politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring the exercise as “Our Year of Emancipation.”
The group, led by Abanikanda Olumoro, said its mission is to ensure that individuals with corruption-tainted records are barred from dominating the political space, stressing that Nigeria’s next leadership phase must be built on integrity and accountability.
While commending recent media reports that exposed the alleged forged degree certificate of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, CND-UK said attention must now shift to the Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, who has been linked to several corruption allegations.
“After Nnaji, our next focus is Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, who has been mentioned in corruption cases involving the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the Betta Edu humanitarian corruption scandal,” the group declared in a statement.
The UK-based Nigerians alleged that Tunji-Ojo is leveraging his political influence to dominate structures in the South-West ahead of 2027, a move they said undermines President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption stance.
They recalled reports by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) which linked Tunji-Ojo to controversies during his tenure as Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC.
The then Acting Managing Director of the commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei, had accused him of corruption before staging a dramatic walkout during a National Assembly hearing in 2020.
CND-UK further cited reports linking the minister to the N438 million consultancy contract scandal involving suspended Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, through a company allegedly owned by him, New Planet Project Ltd.
Although the group acknowledged his achievements as Interior Minister, including the clearance of passport backlogs, it insisted that unresolved corruption allegations and controversies surrounding his NYSC certificate continue to cast a shadow over his credibility.
They urged President Tinubu to suspend Tunji-Ojo pending a full investigation, echoing similar calls by civic groups such as the South West Integrity Group.
“It is not enough for Tunji-Ojo to step aside on his own terms. These allegations must be thoroughly investigated. Anything less will undermine Nigeria’s global image and reinforce perceptions that the administration shields politically connected figures,” the group said.
The diaspora Nigerians insisted that only a lawful and independent probe can determine Tunji-Ojo’s fitness for political participation in 2027.
“Before the likes of Bunmi Tunji-Ojo can play any role in 2027 — our year of emancipation — they must face an independent probe. If cleared, we will applaud them; if guilty, Nigerians must move on without them,” the group warned.
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