By Ilesanmi Babalola | Asiwaju Media Team
Fresh controversy has emerged around the Ministry of Interior as civil society actors and legal practitioners intensify calls for an institutional probe into the academic and service records of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, amid concerns over transparency, credibility, and public trust.
The renewed scrutiny follows a formal petition submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by a Lagos based law firm, Goodman Che Solicitors, over what it described as the refusal of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to disclose the minister’s service records in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
In a letter dated 19 November 2025 and addressed to the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the firm said it was acting on behalf of Igbega Foundation, a civil society organisation seeking clarification on the minister’s NYSC mobilisation, deployment, and service history.
According to the petition, Amofin Solicitors, representing the foundation, had earlier written to the Director General of the NYSC on 5 November 2024 pursuant to Sections 1 and 3 of the Freedom of Information Act. The request sought access to official documents relating to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s educational and service credentials, including his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Senior Secondary Certificate allegedly obtained in 1991 and his Certificate of National Service dated 23 February 2023.
The failure of the NYSC to release the requested records has further intensified public debate, with critics arguing that unresolved questions surrounding the minister’s credentials warrant a broader review of both his appointment and his stewardship of the Interior Ministry.
Observers insist that credibility of qualifications is fundamental to public service and cannot be divorced from performance in office. They argue that allegations bordering on forged or misrepresented credentials covering WAEC, NYSC, bachelor’s, and master’s degree certificates, if established, would raise grave concerns about the integrity of official actions taken under the minister’s watch and the credibility of the institutions involved.
Attention has also shifted to the Interior Ministry’s much publicised fast track passport initiative, which initially earned commendation for improving service delivery. Critics now contend that Nigerian passport holders are increasingly subjected to enhanced scrutiny and entry restrictions in several countries, with the United States often cited as a prominent example.
They argue that these developments have dampened earlier optimism around passport reforms and raised broader concerns about Nigeria’s international image, border control, and internal security core responsibilities of the Interior Ministry.
While emphasising that the allegations against the minister remain unproven, critics maintain that transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law demand an independent and lawful review of the issues raised. They argue that public confidence in governance depends on the willingness of public officials to submit themselves to scrutiny.
Offering a legal perspective, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barrister Usani, SAN, while praising President Tinubu’s tax reform agenda as bold and transformative, expressed reservations about the continued placement of Hon. Tunji-Ojo in sensitive policy areas amid unresolved integrity questions.
Barr. Usani described the tax reforms as among the most viable policies capable of reshaping Nigeria’s economic future but warned against assigning a minister under public scrutiny a central role in reforms involving sensitive national data.
He specifically raised concerns over the Interior Ministry’s role in policies linking National Identification Numbers (NINs) with banking and tax systems, cautioning that such responsibilities demand unquestionable integrity.
“Entrusting the Interior Ministry, where Nigerians’ NINs will be integrated with banking systems under the new tax framework, to a minister whose credentials remain under question is risky and should be firmly reconsidered,” Barr. Usani said.
He further stated that until the minister provides clear explanations and verifiable official documentation from relevant authorities to substantiate his credentials, he should not preside over responsibilities of such national sensitivity.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the NYSC, WAEC, or any other relevant government agency addressing the allegations and concerns raised.
