By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application to investigate the academic qualifications of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, amid ongoing public controversy over his school and service records.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, followed an ex-parte motion filed by activist Emorioloye Owolemi, who asked the court to legally verify Tunji-Ojo’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) documents allegedly issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Justice Binta Nyako granted the permission to probe the minister’s secondary school certificate, confirming that the court will allow formal scrutiny of the qualifications that Tunji-Ojo submitted when he was appointed to his current cabinet position.
Tunji-Ojo, a former lawmaker and a close ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been the subject of public protests and civil society calls demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and secondary school certificates.
Last week, youths and activists marched in Abuja, asserting that his NYSC documents may have been improperly issued, and pressing for accountability despite the NYSC previously asserting that his certificate is authentic.
Civil society figures, including representatives of the Centre for Leadership Legacy International (Centre LLI), have urged President Tinubu to initiate a full investigation into the matter in the interest of transparency and governance integrity.
Supporters of the minister have urged calm, pointing out that questions about public officials’ credentials should be resolved through proper legal and institutional channels.
Critics, however, argue that unresolved allegations of certificate irregularities similar to past cases involving other public officials undermine public trust.
This legal development places Tunji-Ojo at the centre of mounting pressure in Abuja, as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread concerns over credential verification and accountability for public office holders.
