The Digest:
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application seeking to compel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release details of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo's discharge certificate and service records. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the ex parte application filed by activist Emorioloye Owolemi did not meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. The applicant sought an order of mandamus directing NYSC to disclose information regarding the minister's alleged abscondment, monthly allowance payments, registration details, and disciplinary records from his 2006 service year. The judge held that the applicant failed to demonstrate he was acting in the public interest as required under the FoI Act. Counsel Philemon Yakubu said he would consult his client on the next line of action.
Key Points:
- The ruling upholds procedural barriers to accessing information on public officials under the FoI Act.
- It may discourage future transparency-seeking efforts by activists and civil society.
- The minister's records remain shielded, while the applicant faces legal costs and procedural hurdles.
- This signals the judiciary's strict interpretation of public interest requirements in FoI applications.
- The timing, amid heightened scrutiny of public officials, keeps transparency questions alive.
Sources: The Cable, Federal High Court
