By Ilesanmi Babalola | Asiwaju Media Team
A law firm, Goodman Che Solicitors, has formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the alleged refusal of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release the service records of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
In a letter dated 19 November 2025 and addressed to the President at the Aso Rock Villa, the firm said it was acting on behalf of Igbega Foundation, a civil society organisation, which had earlier sought clarification on the minister’s NYSC mobilisation and deployment history.
According to the petition, Amofin Solicitors, acting for the foundation, had on 5 November 2024 written to the Director-General of the NYSC requesting access to Tunji-Ojo’s service records under Sections 1 and 3 of the Freedom of Information Act. The request reportedly covered, among other documents, his WAEC Senior Secondary Certificate (1991) and NYSC Certificate of National Service dated 23 February 2023.
Reacting to the unfolding development, critics have argued that the allegations surrounding Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s academic and service credentials should trigger a broader institutional review of his performance in public office.
They contend that since the Interior Minister is alleged to have forged or misrepresented key credentials including his WAEC, NYSC certificate, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree, there is a need, in the interest of accountability, to also subject his official performance to scrutiny under applicable laws.
According to the critics, public service performance cannot be divorced from the credibility of the qualifications upon which appointments and responsibilities are based. They argue that if the allegations are proven, it would raise serious questions about the integrity of decisions taken while in office.
Particular attention has been drawn to the much publicised fast track issuance of Nigerian international passports, a policy initiative for which Tunji-Ojo had received public commendation. Critics now claim that holders of the Nigerian passport are increasingly facing entry restrictions and heightened scrutiny by several countries, with the United States frequently cited as a notable example.
They argue that this development has undermined the earlier optimism surrounding passport reforms and has further intensified concerns about Nigeria’s international credibility and internal security architecture, an area directly under the Interior Ministry’s oversight.
While emphasising that the allegations remain unproven, critics insist that transparency demands an independent and lawful review of both the credentials in question and the minister’s stewardship, stressing that public trust in governance depends on accountability, integrity, and adherence to the rule of law.
As of press time, no official response has been issued by the Minister of Interior or relevant government agencies addressing these specific criticisms.
