Court ​‌‌⁠‌orders Tinubu’s minister to respond to suit seeking disclosure of NYSC records

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to respond to a suit seeking to compel the release of records of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The trial judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, gave the order on Monday when the matter came up for hearing.

The Incorporated Trustees of Pathway to Equity and Charity Foundation, which filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1812/2026, had prayed the court to compel the NYSC to disclose documents supporting the minister’s claim that he completed the mandatory one-year national service.

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The foundation also sought an order of mandamus directing the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the 2nd respondent, to produce records showing that the minister did his primary assignment at the FCTA.

When the case was called, counsel to the applicant, Chief Solomon Akuma, SAN, told the court he was ready to proceed with the hearing, and Abiola Olaniji, who appeared for the minister, said he had filed an application for Tunji-Ojo to be joined as the 3rd respondent.

Olaniji said the applicant had responded with a counter affidavit raising serious issues, to which he needed time to reply and further stated that the minister was ready to take part in the proceedings as an interested party.

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Akuma opposed the application, arguing that the minister was not a proper party, adding that the suit only sought an order of mandamus compelling the respondents (NYSC and FCTA) to produce documents that are not in the minister’s custody.

Justice Ibrahim directed the minister to file and serve his reply to the applicant’s counter affidavit, which opposed his application to be joined as a party in the suit before the next hearing date fixed for November 18, 2026.

The applicant had sought from the NYSC the mobilisation or call-up letter issued to Tunji-Ojo in 2006 or any other year; the posting letter to the FCTA in 2006 or any other year; and his application for mobilisation.

It also sought evidence of approval of his remobilisation by the NYSC’s Director-General; evidence of payment of allowances to him; the record of his Community Development Service and his discharge certificate.

The foundation equally sought from the FCTA the mobilisation or call-up letter, the posting letter, his attendance record during the service year, evidence of any allowance paid to him, among others.

It said the application was brought under 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 also cited Sections 20, 21, and 25 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.