A group of concerned citizens from Ondo State has petitioned the Senate to disqualify President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over an alleged case of NYSC certificate forgery.
The group, known as Concerned Ondo Patriots, claimed that Tunji-Ojo, who is a serving member of the House of Representatives and a former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) committee, presented a fake NYSC certificate to the Senate for confirmation.
The group alleged that Tunji-Ojo lied about his participation in the mandatory one-year national service scheme, which is required by law for all Nigerian graduates.
According to the group, Tunji-Ojo graduated from the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) in 2005 with a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. However, he claimed that he was mobilized for the NYSC scheme in November 2019, a few months after he was elected as a federal lawmaker.
The group further alleged that the NYSC certificate that Tunji-Ojo submitted to the Senate, with number FC/FRN/2019/724075, was issued on February 28, 2023. This implies that he completed his service while serving as a member of the House of Representatives, which is impossible and illegal.
The group also pointed out that the NYSC certificate had Tunji-Ojo’s picture and date of birth as 01/May/1982, which contradicts his claim that he graduated from a London university in 2006 at age 25.
The group accused Tunji-Ojo of perjury and lying on oath, and urged the Senate not to confirm him as a minister. The group said that confirming him would tarnish the reputation and integrity of President Tinubu’s administration.
The group also reminded the Senate that Section 12 of the NYSC Act mandates all employers to demand and obtain the NYSC certificate or exemption certificate of prospective employees before hiring them. The group also cited Section 13 of the Act, which criminalizes skipping or forging the national service certificate, and prescribes a penalty of 12 months imprisonment or a fine of N2,000 or both for offenders.
The group appealed to the Senate to uphold the respect and sanctity of the upper chamber by rejecting Tunji-Ojo’s nomination.
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