Court stops NYSC from issuing disclaimer against Enugu gov-elect
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle); state Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Augustine Nnamani (left); and the governor-elect of the PDP, Peter Mbah
Photo: Ifeoma Nwovu/Radio Nigeria
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has restrained the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, from further publishing a disclaimer, denying the issuance of certificate dated Jan.6, 2003 to the Governor-elect of Enugu state, Mr Peter Mbah.
Ruling on an ex parte application moved by the Counsel for the plaintiff and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Emeka Ozoani, the court also barred the NYSC Director, Corps Certification, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad from continuing to issue a disclaimer to the effect that Mr Mbah’s NYSC certificate was not issued by the NYSC.
The motion ex parte was predicated on 10 grounds.
Mr Mbah said after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, He retuned to Nigeria and as a pre-requisite to practice as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, applied and was admitted into the Bar part-1 program of the Nigerian Law School.
Mbah said upon completing the bar part-1 exam, he had to wait for the bar part-2 program, and was advised that instead of spending time idling around, he should proceed to the mandatory one year NYSC program.
He said he was called up for NYSC and was deployed initially to Nigerian Ports Authority Apapa for his primary assignment but was rejected by NPA, before securing another law firm.
According to the plaintiff, in the course of his service year, he applied and was granted approval to defer the NYSC in order to enable him complete the bar final exam.
Mbah averred that upon completion of the NYSC, he was issued the certificate of National Service on January 6 2003.
The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until the 22nd of this month for hearing of the motion on notice.
The NYSC had on 1st of February, this year, written a letter signed by Mr Ibrahim Muhammed saying that the NYSC certificate belonging to Mbah was not issued by the corps.
Mr. Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won the Enugu state governorship election held in March 18 and would be sworn-in May 29th as Governor of Enugu State.
Reporting by Ifeoma Nwovu; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade