A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to respond to a suit seeking the release of records relating to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service.
Justice Salim Ibrahim gave the directive on Monday, ordering the minister to file and serve his response before the next hearing on November 18, 2026.
The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Pathway to Equity and Charity Foundation, seeks to compel the NYSC to release documents confirming whether Tunji-Ojo completed his mandatory one-year national service.
The foundation is also asking the court to direct the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to produce records showing that the minister served his primary assignment there.
It wants the NYSC to release his mobilisation and posting letters, remobilisation approval, allowance payment records, Community Development Service records, “book of life” and discharge certificate.
The foundation is similarly demanding his attendance records, posting documents and other relevant service records from the FCTA.
The action was brought under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and relevant provisions of the Federal High Court Act and its Civil Procedure Rules.
The court had granted the foundation leave to commence the suit on October 5, 2026.
At Monday’s proceedings, the foundation’s counsel, Chief Solomon Akuma (SAN), said he was ready to proceed with the hearing.
However, Abiola Olaniji, counsel to Tunji-Ojo, told the court that the minister had applied to be joined as the third respondent.
Olaniji said the foundation had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the application and that he needed time to respond to issues raised in the document.
The foundation opposed the minister’s request, arguing that he was not a necessary party because the suit sought to compel the NYSC and FCTA to release records allegedly held by the institutions.
Justice Ibrahim nevertheless directed the minister to file his response before adjourning the matter until November 18.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, the foundation’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Uchenna Ejimafor, described the organisation as a non-governmental body involved in exposing corruption, bribery and abuse of office.
Ejimafor alleged that the foundation’s investigation found that Tunji-Ojo did not serve with the FCTA in 2006 or any other year, despite claims that he completed his national service.
He said the foundation subsequently requested relevant documents through its solicitors to verify its findings, but the respondents allegedly failed to provide them.
The foundation argued that the Freedom of Information Act requires public institutions to respond to such requests within seven days and asked the court to compel the release of the records.
The controversy previously attracted a response from the NYSC in a letter dated August 8, 2023, signed by an official identified as Fasakin B.A. on behalf of the Director-General.
According to the letter, Tunji-Ojo was mobilised in 2006 and deployed to the Federal Capital Territory but later absconded from the scheme.
The NYSC stated that he resurfaced in 2019, was remobilised and posted to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for his primary assignment.
The agency explained that his certificate was unavailable at the passing-out parade because his name had been omitted from the certificate-printing application.
It added that Tunji-Ojo applied for the certificate through the FCT State Coordinator on October 18, 2022, and the request was forwarded to the NYSC headquarters.
The NYSC said certificate number A004523631 was produced on February 28, 2023, and made available for collection.
The court is expected to continue hearing the matter on November 18, 2026, following the minister’s response to the foundation’s counter-affidavit.
