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LEGAL PRACTITIONER DAISI ONETUFO PETITIONS APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OVER ALLEGED EVASION OF NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE BY ONDO REPS ASPIRANT DARAMOLA
A legal practitioner, Barrister Daisi Onetufo has petitioned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda over an alleged evasion of the mandatory National Youth Service by a house of representatives aspirant in Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency.
In a letter copied the Ondo State Governor, Hon(Dr) Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the state chairman of the party, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole the legal practitioner alleged that Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola is not eligible to contest elections in Nigeria.
The letter dated April 28th, 2026 reads, “PETITION: DR. OLUMUYIWA DARAMOLA – INELIGIBILITY TO CONTEST FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE ON ACCOUNT OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH NYSC REQUIREMENTS*
“I write to respectfully draw your attention to serious concerns regarding the eligibility of Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola to contest for elective office under the platform of our great party”.
“Public records and statements attributed to Dr. Daramola reveal inconsistencies in his academic history as well as a fundamental issue concerning compliance with the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme”.
“In a publication by Ikale Voice dated 21 January 2022, Dr. Daramola stated that he commenced studies in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ilorin in 2002, later relocating to the United States in 2006 where he completed his medical degree, obtained a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science from Georgetown University, Washington DC, and subsequently earned a PhD in Public Health from Capella University”.
“Similarly, on his Facebook page of 5 February 2025, he reiterated substantially the same claims regarding his educational background.
However, in his most recent résumé, he now presents a different academic trajectory, namely:
Diploma in Nursing – Star College, Virginia, USA
Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics – Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) – Capella University, Minneapolis, USA
Please see the attached copies of Master of Science certificate dated 31 August 2016 and Doctor of Public Health certificate dated 31 December 2021”.
“These inconsistencies raise credibility concerns. More importantly, there is no evidence that Dr. Daramola has undertaken or completed the mandatory NYSC scheme as required by law”.
“Section 2 of the National Youth Service Corps Act clearly provides that every Nigerian who graduates from a university, including those outside Nigeria, is subject to national service”.
“Compliance with this requirement is a condition precedent for eligibility to hold certain public offices.
It is also noteworthy that Dr. Daramola has publicly claimed possession of a Doctor of Public Health qualification. Therefore, any attempt to present a secondary school certificate to circumvent the NYSC statutory requirements is unlawful”.
“Furthermore, the legal principle established in Modibbo v. Usman (2020) 3 NWLR (Pt. 1712) 470 reinforces that no individual is permitted to benefit from his own illegality or wrongdoing. Any attempt to circumvent statutory requirements, including concealment or misrepresentation of material facts, renders such a candidacy legally defective”.
“In light of the foregoing, I respectfully urge the leadership of the party to:
Conduct a thorough investigation into Dr. Daramola’s academic credentials and NYSC status.
Require verifiable evidence of NYSC discharge or exemption certificate as mandated by law.
Take appropriate steps to ensure that only qualified and legally compliant candidates are presented by the party to avoid eventual nullification of the party’s candidate for Ile/Okitipupa Federal Constituency by the courts”.
“This petition is made in the interest of upholding the rule of law, preserving the integrity of our party, and maintaining public confidence in the democratic process.
I trust that this matter will receive the urgent and careful attention it deserves”.
In his Legal Research contained in the letter, Daisi Onetufo insists that Olumuyiwa Daramola is not eligible to contest elections in Nigeria.
It reads, “Modibbo v. Usman (2020)
3 NWLR (Pt. 1712) 470
On whether a person may benefit from his own illegality
No one is permitted to benefit from his own illegality or wrongdoing. Doing an act prohibited by statute in order to benefit therefrom is an act of illegality”.
“In the instant case, it was clear that the appellant concealed material fact from both the 2nd and 3rd respondents. In his INEC Forms CF001 and CF002, in order to deceive both the 2nd and 3rd respondents, and indeed the general public”.
“The appellant had allegedly fraudulently stated therein that Senior Secondary Certificate, which of course did not qualify him for call-up to participate in the NYSC scheme, was the highest educational qualification he had obtained”.
“This was also a deliberate falsehood, in view of the fact that he was a graduate, holding B.Sc. (Public Administration) from Adamawa State University, Mubi”, the letter added.
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