A justice advocate Samuel Ali has criticised a publication by the Centre for Leadership Legacy International alleging a certificate discrepancy against the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja, Mr Ali described the allegation as baseless and capable of misleading the public and weakening confidence in democratic institutions.
The publication, which was carried by Daily Post on December 19, claimed there were issues with the minister’s credentials.
Ali said the report was damaging not only to the minister but also to institutions involved in his screening and confirmation.
He stated that the minister underwent vetting by security agencies and the National Assembly before assuming office.
Ali called on the Centre for Leadership Legacy International to retract the publication and apologise publicly, while urging Nigerians to disregard the report.
“We strongly condemn in the strongest terms the publication credited to the Centre for Leadership Legacy International (Centre LL) and carried by Daily Post newspaper on 19th December 2025, which alleged a purported certificate discrepancy against the Honourable Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This publication is baseless, reckless, and highly unprofessional, and it is capable of misleading the public and undermining confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“It is unacceptable for any organization to make such grave allegations without credible evidence, lawful verification, or recourse to constitutionally empowered authorities.
“It must be clearly stated that the Honourable Minister of Interior was subjected to rigorous screening and vetting processes before assumption of office.
“These processes involved the Department of State Services (DSS), other relevant security agencies, and the National Assembly, which conducted exhaustive background checks, credential verification, and confirmation hearings before his nomination was approved and he was duly sworn in by Mr. President.
“By publishing and circulating such unverified allegations, Centre LL and by extension the Daily Post publication of 19th December 2025, has not only attempted to malign the person of the Honourable Minister, but has also cast unwarranted doubt on the integrity, competence, and credibility of the DSS and the National Assembly, institutions constitutionally mandated to conduct screening and confirmation of public office holders.
“This amounts to an indirect but serious tarnishing of the reputation of these critical national institutions.
“We therefore call on the Department of State Services (DSS) to take note of this development, as the spread of unfounded allegations of this nature undermines public trust in its screening and intelligence functions and may erode confidence in national security institutions if left unchecked.
“Furthermore, we respectfully urge Mr. President not to give room to baseless, faceless, and speculative accusations against members of his cabinet.
“Allowing such narratives to gain traction risks damaging the reputation of other cabinet members, all of whom have passed through constitutionally recognized screening and confirmation processes,” Ali said.
He added that the publication appeared politically motivated and intended to distract from reforms being carried out by the minister in internal security, correctional services, border management and public safety.
Samuel Ali said allegations of this nature should be addressed through due process and not through the media.
“Nigeria’s democracy requires responsible journalism, ethical advocacy, and respect for institutions, not sensational narratives that weaken governance and national cohesion.
We therefore demand that the immediate retraction of the publication by Centre for Leadership Legacy International (Centre LL).
“A public apology to the Honourable Minister of Interior, the DSS, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian public. The public disregarded this misleading and unsubstantiated report.
“The Honourable Minister of Interior deserves fairness, due process, and respect, just as Nigeria’s democratic institutions deserve protection from irresponsible and damaging allegations.”
