An Ondo State-based group operating under the aegis of Concerned Ondo Patriots has petitioned the Senate, asking it not to confirm President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as minister over an alleged issue of certificate forging.
The group has accused Tunji-Ojo of forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme certificate, which he presented before the upper chamber.
Tunji-Ojo is a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and he is currently representing Akoko North Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
In a petition signed by Bamidele Okere and Musiliu Babatunde, the lawmaker forged the NYSC certificate he presented before the Senate, accusing him of perjury and lying on oath.
The group maintained that his confirmation by the senate would dent the integrity of President Bola Tinubu-led government.
Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo claimed he graduated from the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University), where he studied Electronics and Communication Engineering and graduated in 2005 at 24.
The lawmaker, who was first elected in 2919, claimed in the documents he presented to the senate that he was mobilised for the compulsory one-year national service from November 28, 2019, to November 27, 2020, a few months after he was elected a federal lawmaker
OsunDailyNG gathered that the copy of the NYSC certificate with number FC/FRN/2019/724075, which he presented, was issued on February 28, 2023.
It was against this backdrop that the group argued that Tunji-Ojo couldn’t have served while in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The group blamed the Senate for asking him to take a bow when his NYSC certificate showed that it was signed on February 28, 2023.
“The NYSC certificate tendered by Hon. Ojo also has his picture, with date of birth of 01/May/1982. It should be noted that Hon. Ojo claimed to have graduated from a London University in 2006 at age 25.
“The Concerned Ondo Patriots therefore called on the Senate not to clear the nominee,” the group said.
The group urged the Senate to be mindful that it will “ridicule the respect and sanctity of the Senate if it goes ahead to clear the nominee from Ondo State.”
However, Section 12 of the NYSC Act mandates all employers to demand the national service certificate of prospective employees before hiring.
Section 12 of the Act reads, “For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtain from any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:-
“a. a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Decree.
“b. a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Decree.
“c. such other particulars relevant there to as may be prescribed by or under this Decree.”
And Section 13 of the Act also criminalises skipping the national service as it prescribes 12 months imprisonment or a fine of N2,000 or both for such offenders.
