A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to reply to a lawsuit in search of to compel the discharge of data of his obligatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Justice Salim Ibrahim gave the order on Monday.
The Incorporated Trustees of Pathway to Equity and Charity Foundation filed the go well with.
It is asking the court docket to compel the NYSC to reveal paperwork supporting the minister’s declare that he accomplished the obligatory one-year nationwide service.
The basis can be in search of an order of mandamus directing the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the second respondent, to supply data displaying that the minister served his main project there.
From the NYSC, the applicant desires:
the mobilisation or call-up letter issued to Tunji-Ojo in 2006 or some other yr;
the posting letter to the FCTA in 2006 or some other yr; his software for mobilisation;
proof of approval of his remobilisation by the Director-General; proof of fee of allowances to him; his “book of life”, stored for every corps member; the file of his Community Development Service; and his discharge certificates.
From the FCTA, it desires the mobilisation or call-up letter, the posting letter, his attendance file through the service yr, proof of any allowance paid to him, and the file of his Community Development Service.
The software was introduced beneath Section 14 of the Federal High Court Act, Order 34 Rules 1, 2 and 5 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, and Sections 20, 21 and 25 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011. It adopted go away granted by Justice Ibrahim on October 5, 2026, permitting the muse to start the lawsuit.
Counsel to the applicant, Chief Solomon Akuma (SAN), informed the court docket he was able to proceed with the listening to.
However, Abiola Olaniji, showing for the minister, mentioned he had filed an software to hitch Tunji-Ojo because the third respondent. He mentioned the applicant had responded with a counter affidavit elevating severe points, to which he wanted time to answer. The minister, he added, was prepared to participate within the proceedings as an get together.
Akuma opposed the appliance, arguing that the minister shouldn’t be a correct get together. He mentioned the go well with seeks an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to supply paperwork that aren’t within the minister’s custody.
Justice Ibrahim nonetheless adjourned the matter and ordered the minister to file his response earlier than the following date.
In a 25-paragraph affidavit, Uchenna Ejimafor, Chairman of the muse’s Board of Trustees, described the group as a non-governmental organisation that exposes paperwork and stories circumstances of corruption, bribery and abuse of workplace in private and non-private establishments.
Ejimafor mentioned the minister had offered himself to the general public as having accomplished the one-year nationwide service and served his main project with the FCTA in 2006 or one other yr. He claimed, nevertheless, that the muse’s discreet investigation confirmed Tunji-Ojo didn’t serve with the FCTA in 2006 or some other yr.
According to the affidavit, the muse requested the paperwork by its solicitors to be able to confirm its findings, however the respondents refused to launch them. It famous that the FOI Act requires such paperwork to be supplied inside seven days of a request, and mentioned the respondents failed, refused or uncared for to conform. Ejimafor argued that, until compelled by the court docket, they might not make the data obtainable.
The controversy over the minister’s certificates beforehand drew a response from the NYSC in a letter dated August 8, 2023, signed by one Fasakin B. A. on behalf of the Director-General.
The letter said that Tunji-Ojo was mobilised in 2006 and deployed to the FCT, however later absconded from the scheme. It mentioned he resurfaced in 2019, was remobilised and posted to the FCDA for his main project. His certificates was not obtainable on the passing-out parade as a result of his title was omitted from the certificates printing software.
The NYSC added that the minister utilized for the certificates by the FCT State Coordinator on October 18, 2022, and that the appliance was forwarded to NYSC headquarters. Certificate No. A004523631 was produced on February 28, 2023, for assortment.
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