Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Took N7,889,000 From The Federal Ministry Of Interior To Attend A Private 70th Birthday Party In Ondo State Instead Of His Personal Funds, While His Office Paid N9,559,800 For Branded Souvenirs

On 16 November 2023, the Federal Ministry of Interior paid N7,889,000 to one Ayandele Rafiu Niyi as duty tour allowance for the Honourable Minister’s trip to Ondo State for a 70th birthday and 17th coronation anniversary celebration. The payment records of the ministry, examined by SecretsReporters, state the purpose in full: the money was paid to Ayandele “in favour of Funmi Ige and 13 others as DTA for Honourable Minister’s trip to Ondo for 70th birthday and 17th coronation anniversary celebration.”

Fourteen people drew travel allowances from the public purse to accompany the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the celebration. The records describe the payment as duty tour allowance, the allowance paid to public officers for official travel. The Financial Regulations require that duty tour allowances be paid only for authorised official duty and retired with receipts and evidence, and the Fiscal Responsibility Act prohibits the misapplication of public funds. A birthday and coronation anniversary celebration is a private celebration, not an official duty.

Ayandele collected more than the birthday trip money. On 23 November 2023, the ministry paid him a further N6,234,500, described as duty tour allowance for the minister’s re-invitation to a public-private sector dialogue in Lagos, in favour of Funmi Ige and 25 others. Across the two payments, N14,123,500 passed through Ayandele’s name in seven days.

A third name runs through the minister’s travel payments. Inedu M. Keche collected N18,880,000 across three payments from the ministry in eleven days. On 1 December 2023, N6,383,000 was paid to her in favour of Funmi Ige and 10 others. On 4 December 2023, N6,303,000 was paid to her “for Hon. Minister and entourage.” On 11 December 2023, N6,194,000 was paid to her in favour of Funmi Ige as duty tour allowance to attend a commissioning in Lagos.

The Financial Regulations treat money paid through an individual officer as a personal advance, which must be retired with documentation showing that it reached its destination. The payment records show the money leaving the ministry. They do not show the retirements.

Two years later, the ministry spent again on the minister’s office. On 31 October 2025, N9,559,800 was paid to Coligula Limited “for the supply of branded souvenir for the Honourable Minister’s office.” The records carry no distribution list and no inventory of the souvenirs supplied. Coligula Limited is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with registration number RC 1576051; it was registered in 2019 and its status on the portal is active.

The figures in this report come from the payment records of the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Interior covering October 2023 to June 2026, examined by SecretsReporters.