Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has joined the increasing list of Nigerian politicians accused of falsifying certifications.
The Coalition for a New Democracy (CND-UK) accused the Ondo-born politician of faking his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials.
BACKGROUND
A group identified as Concerned Ondo Patriots alleged that Tunji-Ojo forged his NYSC certificate.
The group in a petition submitted to the senate claimed that Tunji-Ojo’s certificate was suspicious because it was signed in February 2023, more than two years after he supposedly completed his service.
It also claimed that Tunji-Ojo was a member of the House of Representatives at the time of his supposed service, which raised questions about his eligibility.
Another group calls for investigation into the matter
In the month of August, 2025, a UK-based group of Nigerians identified as the Coalition for a New Democracy (CND-UK) demanded a full investigation into the allegation of NYSC certificate falsification, citing inconsistencies in Tunji-Ojo’s certificate, which was submitted to the Senate as evidence of national service.
The group claimed that the NYSC certificate was issued and signed in February 2023, more than two years after the supposed completion of his service.
According to the group, Tunji-Ojo was mobilized for national service in 2019 while serving as a member of the House of Representatives at the time.
While calling on NYSC to verify if the certificate is genuine or not, the group stressed that NYSC should provide the organization the minister served, his community development project, and the bank through which he received allowances.
PREMIUM TIMES?
An online newspaper in Nigeria, identified as Premium Times, in an attempt to seek clarification on the Tunji-Ojo’s certificate saga, wrote to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to seek verification of the certificate’s authenticity.
The newspaper also sent a Freedom of Information request to the NYSC, seeking clarification on Tunji-Ojo’s certificate authenticity.
NYSC’S REACTION?
In response to the FOI request filed, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) confirmed that Tunji-Ojo’s certificate was genuine.
The agency disclosed that Tunji Ojo initially absconded from the service in 2006 but resurfaced in 2018 and was remobilized in 2019.
According to the agency, he was deployed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja.
While explaining some discrepancies spotted in the certificate, the agency explained that Tunji-Ojo’s certificate was not ready during the 2020 passing-out ceremony due to an omission in the Certificate Printing Application.
The agency further disclosed that Tunji Ojo applied for the certificate in October 2022, but it was produced in February 2023.
CONCERNS WITHOUT CLARIFICATION?
Many netizens have wondered and expressed their concerns about the ongoing saga.
Some netizens wondered how possible it was for Tunji Ojo to be mobilized for the NYSC program as a serving member of the House of Representatives.
They also worried that the agency, NYSC, has not provided clear details on Tunji Ojo’s primary place of assignment, community development project, or bank details for allowance payments.