A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to respond to a lawsuit seeking the disclosure of records relating to his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the order on Monday during proceedings in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Pathway to Equity and Charity Foundation. The foundation is seeking to compel the NYSC and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to release documents linked to the minister’s mandatory one-year national service.
The applicant is requesting an order of mandamus compelling the NYSC to provide records supporting Tunji-Ojo’s claim that he completed the compulsory service year. It is also asking the court to direct the FCTA to produce documents showing that the minister carried out his primary assignment with the administration.
Among the documents sought from the NYSC are the minister’s mobilisation or call-up letter, posting letter, application for mobilisation, evidence of remobilisation approval, records of allowance payments, his “book of life,” Community Development Service (CDS) records, and discharge certificate.
The foundation is similarly demanding documents from the FCTA, including his mobilisation and posting letters, attendance records, evidence of payment of allowances, and CDS records.
The suit was instituted under provisions of the Federal High Court Act, the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011. The action followed leave granted by Justice Ibrahim on October 5, 2026, permitting the foundation to commence the proceedings.
At Monday’s sitting, counsel to the applicant, Chief Solomon Akuma (SAN), informed the court that he was prepared to proceed with the hearing. However, counsel representing the minister, Abiola Olaniji, told the court that an application had been filed seeking to join Tunji-Ojo as the third respondent in the matter.
Olaniji argued that issues raised in the applicant’s counter affidavit required further response and requested time to address them. He added that the minister was willing to participate in the proceedings as an interested party.
Akuma opposed the application, contending that Tunji-Ojo was not a necessary party since the documents sought by the foundation were in the custody of the respondents and not the minister.
Despite the objection, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter and directed the minister to file his response before the next hearing date.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, Uchenna Ejimafor, stated that the organisation is dedicated to exposing corruption, bribery, and abuse of office in public and private institutions.
Ejimafor alleged that although Tunji-Ojo has publicly maintained that he completed the NYSC programme and served with the FCTA, an investigation conducted by the foundation suggested otherwise. He said the organisation sought access to the relevant records through its solicitors but claimed that both the NYSC and FCTA failed to release the requested documents.
According to the affidavit, the respondents’ refusal to provide the records violated provisions of the FOI Act, which requires public institutions to respond to information requests within seven days.
The case also revisits an earlier clarification issued by the NYSC in a letter dated August 8, 2023. The letter stated that Tunji-Ojo was mobilised in 2006 and deployed to the Federal Capital Territory but allegedly absconded from the scheme before later resurfacing in 2019. According to the NYSC, he was subsequently remobilised and posted to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for his primary assignment.
The NYSC further explained that the minister’s certificate was not available during the passing-out parade because his name was omitted from the certificate printing application. It added that following an application submitted through the FCT State Coordinator on October 18, 2022, Certificate No. A004523631 was produced on February 28, 2023, and made available for collection.
