By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed the recent legal moves targeting the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as a politically motivated distraction aimed at undermining his growing national profile, insisting that the attacks appear driven by speculation about a possible governorship ambition in Ondo State; an ambition the minister has not even declared.

Reacting to reports that the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an activist permission to question the minister’s WAEC certificate while rejecting a separate request relating to his NYSC discharge, the group described the pattern of litigation as a coordinated smear campaign disguised as civic engagement. Besides, HURIWA expressed disappointment that someone could go to court just to verify a WAEC result that can seamlessly be accessed by buying WAEC scratchcard and then verify in real time.

In a statement issued in Abuja, HURIWA said it finds it disturbing that credentials already accepted by statutory institutions such as the West African Examinations Council and the National Youth Service Corps are suddenly being dragged into public controversy through the courts without credible evidence of wrongdoing.

The association noted that Justice Binta Nyako granted leave for inquiry into the minister’s secondary school certificate, while Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the broader NYSC-related request, ruling that the applicant failed to establish sufficient public interest. According to the group, the latter decision exposes the intrusive and speculative nature of the demands.

HURIWA argued that academic credentials used for university admission and completion of national service already undergo several layers of institutional verification, making fresh court-driven probes unnecessary unless supported by concrete proof of forgery or misconduct.

The group said the development reflects a familiar Nigerian political pattern in which litigation, petitions and media narratives are deployed to weaken perceived frontline contenders ahead of election cycles. It expressed concern that even though the minister has not indicated any intention to contest the next governorship election in Ondo State, political actors fearful of that possibility appear to be mounting pre-emptive attacks against him.

HURIWA warned that turning the courts into arenas for speculative credential disputes risks trivialising the justice system and weaponising transparency mechanisms for partisan objectives.

The organisation further stressed that public accountability must not be reduced to fishing expeditions into personal records, financial history or service documentation without compelling justification, cautioning that normalising such tactics could expose many public officials to harassment by political opponents posing as whistleblowers.

HURIWA therefore urged political stakeholders in Ondo State to prioritise governance debates and policy alternatives rather than personality-driven attacks. It described it as deeply unfortunate that a serving minister focused on national responsibilities is being targeted based on assumptions about a governorship ambition he has not expressed.

The group also called on civil society organisations to resist being drawn into elite political rivalries, warning that advocacy loses credibility when it appears selective or strategically timed.

HURIWA concluded that while lawful scrutiny of public officials remains legitimate, such actions must be evidence-based, proportionate and genuinely in the public interest; not deployed as a pre-election weapon against individuals whose rising influence unsettles entrenched interests.

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking confirmation of the nomination of Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, via a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary.

Tinubu explained that the request was made in compliance with the provisions of the law guiding appointments into the commission, and therefore, urged the upper legislative chamber to expedite consideration of the nominee in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.

“While it is my hope that the senate will consider and confirm the appointment expeditiously, please accept, Mr Senate President and distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest regards,” the letter read.

Tinubu had last week nominated Yusuf, a retired career diplomat, and the immediate past Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Turkiye as the NAHCON’s new chairman following the resignation of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman a.k.a Pakistani.

Born on July 7, 1962 at Mubi, Adamawa State, Yusuf graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto in 1985 with an Honors degree in Political Science. He completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC program at the Ijebu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in 1986, and immediately gained employment into the Foreign Service in December 1986.

The chairmanship nominee attended several advance professional courses and rose to the rank of Director in 2013. He was subsequently appointed Ambassador extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkiye in 2021.

He played a pivotal role in accelerating strategic relationship with Turkiye focused heavily on defense, security, trade and investment, and industrial

By George Mgbeleke

Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has faulted the decision of the office of the National Security Adviser to drag to the Department of State Services, the matter of the accusation made against the NSA Mr. Nuhu Ribadu by former Governor of Kaduna state Mallam Nassir El-Rufai concerning a plot to import odourless but toxic chemical substance into Nigeria.

The Rights group has instead admonished the NSA to institute a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory or the Federal High Court, Abuja Division so the erstwhile Governor of Kaduna State and a former Federal minister who is a prominent leader of the political opposition can have the opportunity to tender evidence and to directly confront the person he has accused just as the courts of competent authority has the judicial powers of the Federation in accordance with Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

HURIWA said since the office of the Department of State Services just like every national security affiliated institutions are coordinated from the office of the National Security Adviser, it can be considered a resort to a self-help measure for the office of the National Security Adviser to file a petition against an opposition politician to a government office under the supervision of the office of the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federation. “The government should avoid exercising powers and authority in such a way that it would be interpreted that the political opposition leadership are under a military styled repression.”

HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, recalled that the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, had asked the Office of the National Security Adviser to clarify what he described as information available to opposition figures regarding the alleged procurement of a toxic chemical substance.

In a letter dated January 30, 2026 and addressed to the National Security Adviser in Abuja, El-Rufai said he was seeking “clarification and reassurance” over reports that the office planned to obtain thallium sulphate from abroad.
El-Rufai posted a copy of the letter on his official X handle on Sunday.

The former governor noted that the substance is regarded as dangerous and tightly regulated, stressing the need for transparency.
“I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland.
“Given that thallium salts are highly toxic and tightly controlled substances, I believe it is important – for public safety, democratic accountability and for maintaining public trust – to confirm the following details”, the letter partly read.

HURIWA also recalled that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Sunday denied procuring thallium sulphate, a highly toxic, colourless and odourless compound capable of killing humans in small doses.

In a reply by OM Adesuyi, a brigadier general, signing on behalf of Mr Ribadu, the ONSA acknowledged receipt of Mr El-Rufai’s correspondence and denied the allegation.
“ONSA has neither procured nor initiated any process for the purchase of such material, and has no intention of doing so,” the statement signed by Mr Adesuyi, stated in the letter, first published by TheCable.

The letter added that the matter had been referred to the State Security Service (SSS) for a comprehensive investigation, and that Mr El-Rufai and other parties in possession of relevant information would be invited by the service to provide evidence.
“Your Excellency and other parties involved, who may possess relevant information relating to this claim, will be duly invited by the Service to provide any evidence that may assist in an in-depth investigation, establishing the facts and ensuring due diligence,” the letter read.

HURIWA disagreed with the dimension and direction that the office of the NSA has taken the matter which suggest a show and demonstration of ‘MIGHT IS RIGHT’ which the Rights group described as illegal and unethical for a government official being accused by a political opponent of the government in power to then use officers answerable to him to seek to intimidate or harass into silence the political opposition leader who has made the allegation.

“The office of the NSA should go to court and allow for adjudication of the matter by an institution that is not affiliated to the NSA because dragging Nassir El-Rufai to the DSS is like becoming the prosecutor and the judge in your own matter. Let this matter go to the court of law so all parties can exercise their fundamental freedoms to disclose whatever information they have.