Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is facing intense scrutiny over his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, with a prominent public interest lawyer, Ayodele Ademiluyi, demanding critical documents relating to his service.
The requests, dated October 22 and 24, 2025, were directed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the NYSC, and Tunji-Ojo himself, under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
Ademiluyi is seeking confirmation of Tunji-Ojo’s educational qualifications declared during his electoral filings in 2010 and 2018, as well as certified copies of Forms CF001 and CF002 submitted to INEC. Additionally, he wants a certified true copy of Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC mobilisation letter, evidence of monthly and final clearances, and confirmation of his date of NYSC mobilisation in 2006.
The lawyer’s demands are grounded in Sections 13, 14(2)(b), and 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which emphasize the importance of honesty, transparency, and accountability in public office. Ademiluyi also cited Section 114(d) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which prohibits false entries in electoral records, and Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, which requires continuous service for twelve months. This raises questions about Tunji-Ojo’s eligibility to serve as a public official while allegedly participating in the NYSC program.
The agencies have seven days to respond to the requests, failing which Ademiluyi will initiate legal proceedings. As of now, the requests remain unanswered, fueling ongoing debates about public office holders’ credentials in Nigeria.
The controversy surrounding Tunji-Ojo’s NYSC certificate has sparked heated discussions, with some defending him and others calling for his resignation. A coalition of civil society organizations has petitioned the presidency and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate Tunji-Ojo’s certificate, alleging that it was issued under suspicious circumstances.
They argue that if Tunji-Ojo participated in the NYSC program while serving as a federal lawmaker, it would constitute an abuse of office and conflict of interest.
