The Nigerian Police Force has dismissed allegations of certificate forgery against the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo, describing them as baseless following an extensive investigation.

The Police, through its spokesperson, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that no evidence was found of forgery, alteration, falsification, or unlawful production of the minister’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

The allegations had sparked protests in Lagos, where some youths and civil society groups demanded the removal of Minister Ojo, claiming that the accusations undermined public office.

Protesters expressed concern that the minister had been under scrutiny for months without publicly clarifying or addressing the allegations. They questioned why he continued to hold office while others facing similar accusations had been removed.

“The protest aimed to demand accountability and equity,” a spokesperson for the demonstrators said, warning that inaction could erode public trust, particularly among young Nigerians. The group had called for Minister Ojo to step aside to allow for an independent investigation and urged the Federal Government to remove and prosecute him if the claims were verified.

Responding to the concerns, the Nigerian Police Force confirmed:

“After an exhaustive investigation into the allegations, it has been established that there is no evidence whatsoever of forgery, alteration, falsification, or unlawful production of the minister’s NYSC certificate. The NYSC was contacted and verified that the certificate was duly issued to the minister. The allegations are therefore unfounded.”

Minister Tunji Ojo has thus been cleared of any wrongdoing, reinforcing his legitimacy in office.