The credentials of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, are under scrutiny following three separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking access to his academic and National Youth Service Corps records.

The suits were filed by a chieftain of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, against the West African Examinations Council, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the National Youth Service Corps.

Arabambi is seeking orders of mandamus compelling the institutions to release official records relating to certificates reportedly issued to Obi.

The suits were filed pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, following alleged refusals by the institutions to provide information requested by the plaintiff.

The suit against WAEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, and the one against NYSC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, while the case against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.

Arabambi said he was not asking the court to determine whether the certificates submitted by Obi to the Independent National Electoral Commission were genuine or forged.

Rather, he said he wanted the institutions to release their official records so that the status and particulars of the certificates could be established.

In the case against WAEC, he is seeking a Certified True Copy of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, reportedly issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuase in June 1978.

He also wants UNN to release its certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate and degree-award records relating to Certificate No. D000198, where such records exist.

For NYSC, Arabambi is seeking access to records relating to Certificate No. 203495, reportedly issued to Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase, on May 1, 1986.

He is also asking for records showing the basis on which the certificate was issued and information concerning the name “Peter-Onwubuase” in the relevant NYSC records.

Court documents showed that WAEC rejected the request on August 11, citing provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, while UNN and NYSC allegedly neither granted the requests nor provided reasons for their refusal.

Arabambi is therefore asking the court to compel the institutions to disclose the requested information and identify any material withheld on statutory grounds.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suits.