A Chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has sued the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)over the academic credentials of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi.
Penpushing reports that in three separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Arabambi is seeking orders compelling the three institutions to release official records relating to certificates allegedly issued to Obi.
The party leader instituted the suits pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, alleging that the institutions either refused or failed to respond to his requests for information concerning Obi’s academic records.
Penpushing further reports that Arabambi’s suit against West African Examinations Council, (WAEC) is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, which was filed on September 1, 2026, while that against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, was equally filed on September 1, 2026 and the suit against the University of Nigeria (UNN), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, 2026.
The counsel of Arabambi, Anderson Asemota, filed the suits on his behalf stressing that he was not asking the court to determine whether the certificates Obi submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 presidential election were genuine or forged.
Penpushing also reports that the plaintiff explained that, rather, he was seeking disclosure of the respondents’ official records from which the status and particulars of the certificate may be ascertained.
The known fearless politician said he separately wrote to the three institutions requesting information about certificates he believed they issued to Obi, alleging that as of the time the suits were filed, he had neither received the requested information nor been given reasons why they were being withheld by University of Nigeria(UNN), Nsukka, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Penpushing reports that Arabambi pointed out that the information sought was in the public interest, particularly for purposes of transparency and accountability concerning persons seeking public office.
The plaintiff equally stated that he was not asking the institutions to create any document or information which does not exist but was seeking access only to existing official records within the custody, possession or control of the respondents”.
Penpushing further reports that Arabambi in the suit against West African Examinations Council, (WAEC), specifically asked the court to compel the examination body to release a Certified True Copy of West African Examinations Council,(WAEC) Certificate number SC042560, issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuase in June 1978.
The plaintiff on University of Nigeria, Nsukka i is seeking access to the University’s certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate/ degree-award records and other existing official records relevant to Certificate number D000198, insofar as such records exist.
Penpushing also reports that he stated that he was not asking the court to pronounce on the authenticity of the certificate, but to ascertain what the University’s own official records disclose concerning the certificate
The Labour Party (LP) chieftain in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) case, is seeking access to official records relating to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate number 203495, stated to have been issued to “Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase (Mr.) on May 1, 1986”.
Penpushing reports that Arabambi in same vein is asking for the official record, certificate, document or other material upon which the said Certificate number 203495 was predicated, based or issued, insofar as the same is in the custody, possession or control of the respondents.
The plaintiff equally wants information concerning the manner in which the name “Peter-Onwubuase” appears in the relevant National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records.
Penpushing further reports that court documents showed that West African Examinations Council (WAEC), in a letter dated August 11, 2026, rejected Arabambi’s request, citing Sections 14(1)(a) and 14(2)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The plaintiff, however, alleged that University of Nigeria, Nsukka and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) neither granted his requests nor communicated any reason for refusing them, and he is therefore asking the court to declare that the refusal by the respondents to furnish him with the requested information was erroneous.
Penpushing also reports that Arabambi asked the court to hold that his requests constituted valid applications for information under the Freedom of Information Act and that the failure to provide the information amounted to “a refusal and/or deemed refusal under the Act”.
The plaintiff among other reliefs, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling University of Nigeria, Nsukka to communicate to him the result of its verification of the particulars of Certificate number D000198 from its existing official records, including whether the certificate and its particulars appear in those records.
Penpushing reports that he is equally asking for an order compelling National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to communicate to him the result of its verification of Certificate number 203495 based on its official records.
The plaintiff equally wants the court to direct the respondents, where they contend that any portion of the requested information is exempt from disclosure, to identify the information withheld and the specific statutory provision relied upon for the refusal.
Penpushing further reports that Arabambi in similar development is seeking an order directing the disclosure of all severable portions of the information that are not exempt, and in addition wants the court to invoke Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act and order disclosure where it finds that the respondents are not authorised to deny access, have no reasonable grounds for doing so, or where the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest served by withholding the information.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report as well as filing the suit by Arabambi, no date had been fixed by the court for hearing in the three suits.
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