Court okays probe of interior minister’s academic record

A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the application seeking to investigate the academic qualification of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Justice Binta Nyako, on Friday granted the application brought by an activist, Emorioloye Owolemi, to inquire into the authenticity of the Secondary School Certificate obtained by the minister from the West African […]

A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the application seeking to investigate the academic qualification of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Justice Binta Nyako, on Friday granted the application brought by an activist, Emorioloye Owolemi, to inquire into the authenticity of the Secondary School Certificate obtained by the minister from the West African Examination Council (WAEC). 

In the application brought by his counsel, Philemon Yakubu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Owolemi sought the leave through a motion ex-parte brought pursuant to order 34 of the Federal High Court Civil Rules 2019, sections 1, 20 and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

However, another Federal High Court presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik refused a second application seeking to inquire into the legality or otherwise of the minister’s NYSC discharge certificate.

• 2027: INEC announces dates for presidential, guber polls
• Fubara: Where is ‘people power’ in your strategy?

On the rejected NYSC application, Owolemi had sought an order of mandamus to compel the NYSC to supply to him the information he requested in his letter of November 17, 2025 regarding the discharge certificate of the minister of interior in the custody of the organisation.

Among other requests, the applicant asked the leave to compel the NYSC to supply him monthly clearance records, the minister’s point of service before his alleged absconding, bank account details, his 2006 NYSC financial information registration and all monthly allowance payment logs, including dates, amounts, bank schedules and the account to which payments were made. 

Others are official NYSC documentation detailing the date, nature and status of the minister’s alleged desertion and all internal memos, queries, disciplinary reports or correspondence issued in relation to that, as well as registration, posting, deployment and service documents associated with his service year, 2006.

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako has fixed March 14 for more hearing.