|By Chinwendu Nwani
The Federal High Court in Abuja has authorized an activist to probe the academic credentials of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a ruling that has intensified scrutiny over the minister’s qualifications.
Justice Binta Nyako granted permission to Mr. Emorioloye Owolemi to inquire into the Secondary School Certificate allegedly issued to Tunji-Ojo by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The judge delivered the decision while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the activist, who argued that discrepancies existed in the minister’s academic claims.
Owolemi had approached the court seeking legal backing to investigate the authenticity and validity of the WAEC certificate attributed to the minister. He grounded his request on alleged inconsistencies surrounding the academic record.
However, in a parallel development, another judge of the same court, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, rejected a separate application by the activist seeking to compel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release detailed records relating to Tunji-Ojo’s discharge certificate.
Through his lead counsel, Philemon Yakubu, SAN, Owolemi had invoked Order 34 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, alongside Sections 1, 20 and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, to seek an order of mandamus directing the NYSC to disclose information requested in a letter dated November 17, 2025.
The activist demanded extensive documentation, including the minister’s NYSC discharge certificate, monthly clearance records, financial disclosures submitted during his 2006 service year, allowance payment logs, bank schedules, and details of any alleged abscondment. He also requested internal memos, disciplinary reports, deployment records, and official correspondence linked to Tunji-Ojo’s service year.
Justice Abdulmalik, after hearing arguments on the ex-parte motion, declined the request. The court ruled that the applicant failed to demonstrate that the application was made in the public interest, a statutory requirement under the law.
Reacting to the ruling, Yakubu told journalists that he would consult with his client to determine the next legal steps. He stressed that the activist’s mission centers on promoting transparency, accountability, and probity in public office.
The split decisions by the Federal High Court have now set the stage for heightened legal and public scrutiny over the academic and service records of the Minister of Interior.
