The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, to respond to a suit seeking the
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, to respond to a suit seeking the disclosure of records relating to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Justice Salim Ibrahim gave the directive on Monday after counsel to the minister sought time to respond to a counter-affidavit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Pathway to Equity and Charity Foundation, opposing his application to join the suit.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1812/2026, seeks to compel the NYSC and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to release documents relating to Tunji-Ojo’s participation in the mandatory one-year national service programme.
The foundation is asking the court to compel the NYSC to disclose records relating to the minister’s claim that he completed the scheme.
The documents include his mobilisation letter, posting letter, records of allowances paid, Community Development Service records and discharge certificate.
It is also seeking an order of mandamus directing the FCTA to produce records showing that the minister undertook his primary assignment at the administration during his service year.
At Monday’s proceedings, Chief Solomon Akuma, senior advocate of Nigeria and counsel to the foundation, told the court that the applicant was ready to proceed with the hearing.
However, Abiola Olaniji, counsel to the minister, said he had filed an application seeking to join Tunji-Ojo as the third respondent.
Olaniji said the foundation had filed a counter-affidavit raising issues that required a response and asked for time to file a reply. He added that the minister was willing to participate in the proceedings as an interested party.
Akuma opposed the application, arguing that Tunji-Ojo was not a necessary party because the suit sought to compel the NYSC and the FCTA to produce documents that were not in the minister’s custody.
Justice Ibrahim directed the minister to file and serve his reply to the foundation’s counter-affidavit before the next hearing date.
The order concerns the minister’s application to join the suit and does not compel the immediate release of the requested records.
The foundation is seeking several documents from the NYSC, including the minister’s mobilisation or call-up letter, reportedly issued in 2006 or another year; his posting letter to the FCTA; and his application for mobilisation.
It also wants evidence of approval by the NYSC director-general for any remobilisation, records of allowances paid to the minister, his Community Development Service records and his discharge certificate.
From the FCTA, the foundation is seeking the mobilisation and posting letters, attendance records for the service year, evidence of allowances paid and other documents relating to his primary assignment.
The suit was filed 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 Sections 20, 21 and 25 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing.
Related News