A meeting convened by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) with lawyers representing the Director-General of the Asiwaju Media Team, Prince Emorioloye Owolemi, ended without resolution on Wednesday after the Director overseeing the Freedom of Information (FOI) unit failed to attend.
The engagement followed a formal petition submitted by Owolemi’s legal team, alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act by two federal institutions—the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The petition accused both bodies of refusing to respond to FOI requests seeking records related to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, beyond the legally prescribed seven-day period.
The petition, dated November 28, was acknowledged by the AGF’s office, which subsequently invited the lawyers for a feedback and resolution meeting on December 18. Although the meeting was initially scheduled for noon, it was later shifted to 3:00 p.m.
At the rescheduled time, proceedings could not continue due to the absence of the FOI Director, whose participation was deemed essential. As a result, the meeting was adjourned and fixed for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, at the AGF’s office.
In the meantime, senior counsel representing Prince Owolemi has been directed to initiate legal action to compel compliance by the affected institutions. It remains unclear whether the Attorney General’s office can secure the release and publication of the requested records from NYSC and WAEC without recourse to the courts.
Public interest in the matter has continued to grow, particularly over NYSC’s silence concerning the mobilization records of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Analysts note that the dispute has now largely entered the legal domain, with growing indications that judicial intervention may be required to compel disclosure amid alleged internal or external constraints hindering voluntary compliance.
Further updates are expected following the rescheduled meeting at the Office of the Attorney General.
