Court Declines Request for Disclosure of Interior Minister’s NYSC Records
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined an application seeking to compel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to disclose records relating to the discharge certificate of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, held that the ex parte application did not satisfy the legal requirements stipulated under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2011. As a result, the court declined to grant the reliefs sought by the applicant.
The application was filed by activist Emorioloye Owolemi through his counsel, Philemon Yakubu. It was brought pursuant to Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, alongside Sections 1, 20, and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act. The motion sought the court’s leave to investigate the legality of the minister’s NYSC discharge certificate and compel the NYSC to release relevant documents.
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Specifically, the applicant requested an order of mandamus directing the NYSC to disclose information contained in a letter dated November 17, 2025, regarding Tunji-Ojo’s discharge certificate. The motion also asked the court to compel the scheme to provide a range of documents associated with the minister’s national service year in 2006.
Among the documents requested were monthly clearance records from the location where the minister reportedly served, prior to an alleged abscondment, as well as financial and bank account details submitted during his NYSC registration. The application further sought monthly allowance payment logs, including payment dates, amounts, bank schedules, and the accounts to which payments were made.
Additional records requested included documentation showing the date, nature, and status of any alleged abscondment, internal memos or disciplinary reports, and official correspondence related to the matter. The applicant also requested access to registration, posting, deployment, and service records tied to Tunji-Ojo’s 2006 service year.
However, in her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the applicant failed to demonstrate that the request was made in the public interest, a key requirement under the Freedom of Information Act. The court concluded that the threshold for granting such an application had not been met and consequently declined the request.
Speaking to journalists following the decision, Yakubu stated that he would consult with his client to determine the next course of action. He noted that the application was intended to promote transparency, accountability, and probity among public office holders in Nigeria.
The case highlights ongoing debates around access to public records and the interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act, particularly in matters involving public officials. While the court’s decision addressed the legal adequacy of the application rather than the substantive claims within it, observers say the ruling underscores the importance of meeting statutory requirements when seeking disclosure of official documents through the judiciary.
The applicant has not yet confirmed whether an appeal will be filed or whether a revised application may be submitted in line with the court’s observations.