A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has granted an application seeking to investigate the academic qualification of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Binta Nyako on Friday approved the application filed by an activist, Emorioloye Owolemi, to inquire into the authenticity of the Secondary School Certificate allegedly obtained by the minister from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The application was brought through Owolemi’s counsel, Philemon Yakubu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), via a motion ex-parte pursuant to Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Sections 1, 20 and 21 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
In granting the request, Justice Nyako permitted the applicant to proceed with steps aimed at verifying the authenticity of the minister’s WAEC certificate.
Although the ruling does not determine the merits of the allegations, it allows the applicant to pursue inquiries under the framework of the FOI Act.
The case has been adjourned to March 14 for further hearing.
In a related development, another Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined a separate application filed by Owolemi concerning the minister’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
In the rejected application, the activist sought an order of mandamus compelling the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release information requested in a letter dated November 17, 2025.
The request sought to obtain detailed records relating to the minister’s 2006 NYSC service year.
Among the documents sought were monthly clearance records, the minister’s point of primary assignment before his alleged abscondment, and his bank account details linked to NYSC payments.
The applicant also requested access to the minister’s 2006 NYSC financial registration information, monthly allowance payment logs — including dates, amounts and account details — as well as official documentation regarding the date, nature and status of his alleged desertion.
Other requested materials included internal memos, disciplinary reports, queries and correspondence issued in connection with the alleged incident, alongside registration, posting, deployment and service documents for the 2006 service year.
However, Justice Abdulmalik declined to grant the order compelling the NYSC to release the information.
While the court has permitted inquiry into the WAEC certificate, the refusal to compel disclosure of NYSC records narrows the immediate scope of investigation.
The March 14 hearing before Justice Nyako is expected to further clarify the procedural path of the WAEC-related inquiry.
The Minister of Interior has yet to issue an official response to the court’s decisions.