The academic credentials of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), are facing legal scrutiny following three separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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The suits were instituted by Labour Party (LP) chieftain Abayomi Arabambi against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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Arabambi is seeking orders of mandamus compelling the institutions to release official records and certificates relating to Obi’s academic and NYSC credentials.
The legal actions are based on the alleged failure of the institutions to provide information requested under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
The suit against WAEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, and the action against NYSC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, while the suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.
Arabambi, through his legal team led by Anderson Asemota, said the suits were not asking the court to determine whether the certificates Obi submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were genuine or forged.
Instead, he wants the institutions to release their existing official records so that the details and status of the certificates can be independently established.
The plaintiff said he had separately written to WAEC, UNN and NYSC requesting information on records allegedly connected to certificates issued to Obi but claimed that the requests were either rejected or left unanswered.
He argued that the information sought was in the public interest, particularly because it concerns the credentials of a person seeking elective public office.
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In the case involving WAEC, Arabambi wants the examination body to provide a Certified True Copy of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, reportedly issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuase in June 1978.
He is also asking UNN to release available records relating to Certificate No. D000198, including its certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate or degree-award records and other relevant documents.
The suit against NYSC seeks access to records concerning Certificate No. 203495, reportedly issued to Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase, on May 1, 1986.
Arabambi is also asking for documents showing the basis on which the NYSC certificate was issued, as well as records relating to the use of the name Peter-Onwubuase in the relevant documents.
Court documents showed that WAEC rejected the request on August 11, citing provisions of the Freedom of Information Act concerning information exempt from disclosure. UNN and NYSC, however, were accused of neither releasing the requested information nor providing reasons for their alleged refusal.
Arabambi is therefore asking the court to declare WAEC’s refusal unlawful and to direct the affected institutions to respond to his requests.
He is also seeking orders requiring the institutions to identify any information they consider exempt from disclosure and provide any portions that are not covered by such exemptions.
The plaintiff further wants the court to apply the public-interest provisions of the FOI Act where it finds that there are no sufficient grounds for withholding the requested records.
No date had been fixed for the hearing of the three suits as of the time of filing the report.
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