The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an activist permission to inquire into the academic credentials of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, specifically his Secondary School Certificate allegedly issued by the West African Examinations Council.
Justice Binta Nyako approved the request while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Mr. Emorioloye Owolemi, a social activist.
In his application, Owolemi sought the court’s leave to verify the authenticity and details of the WAEC certificate attributed to the minister, citing what he described as discrepancies in Tunji-Ojo’s academic claims.
The court’s decision effectively authorises the activist to proceed with his inquiry into the minister’s secondary school qualifications.
In a related development, another judge of the same court, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined a separate application by the activist seeking to compel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release information concerning the minister’s discharge certificate.
Arguing through his lead counsel, Mr. Philemon Yakubu, SAN, Owolemi had filed a motion ex-parte pursuant to Order 34 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, as well as Sections 1, 20 and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act.
He sought an order of mandamus directing the NYSC to provide information earlier requested in a letter dated November 17, 2025.
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The activist requested extensive documentation relating to Tunji-Ojo’s 2006 NYSC service year. These included: A copy of the minister’s NYSC discharge certificate; Monthly clearance records from the place of primary assignment; Bank account details and financial information submitted during service; Logs of monthly allowance payments, including dates, amounts, and recipient accounts; Official documentation detailing the date, nature, and status of an alleged abscondment; Internal memos, disciplinary reports, queries, and related correspondences; Registration, posting, deployment, and service records tied to the 2006 service year.
However, after hearing arguments on the ex-parte motion, Justice Abdulmalik refused to grant the request. The court held that the applicant failed to clearly demonstrate that the application was brought in the public interest, a requirement under the relevant legal provisions.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Yakubu said he would consult with his client to determine the next course of action. He maintained that the underlying objective of the suit was to promote transparency, accountability, and probity in public office.
The twin rulings mark a significant development in the legal challenge, allowing scrutiny of the minister’s WAEC certificate to proceed while halting, at least for now, attempts to compel disclosure of his NYSC records