High Court: NYSC Barred From Disclaiming Peter Mbah’s Certificate

The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC)  from disclaiming the discharge certificate purportedly issued to the Enugu state Governor-elect, Peter Mbah.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the ruling on Monday in an application filed by Emeka Ozoani, SAN, on behalf of Mbah.

Ekwo also barred the NYSC Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad from continuing to issue a disclaimer to the effect that Mbah’s  NYSC certificate was not issued by the NYSC.

According to NAN, Ozoani brought the motion under Section 13(1) & (2) of the Federal High Court Act Cap F12, Vol. 6, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Order 26 Rule 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.

Ekwo ordered the applicant to serve the defendants with court processes within two days of the order.

The motion ex parte was predicated on 10 grounds.

Mbah had explained that after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, he returned to Nigeria and as a pre-requisite to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, applied and was admitted into the Bar part 1 programme of the Nigerian Law School.

He said upon completing the bar part I exam, he had to wait for the bar part 2 programme and was advised that instead of spending time idling around, he should proceed to the mandatory one-year NYSC programme.

He explained further that 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 the law firm of Ude & Associates.

“The plaintiff in the course of his service year and after six months of NYSC, applied and was granted approval to defer the NYSC in order to enable him complete the bar final exam.

“Thereafter, the plaintiff was remobilized to finish the NYSC programme, which he did complete.”

Mbah averred that upon completion of the NYSC, he was issued the certificate of National Service No. A.808297 dated Jan.6 2003.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until May 22 for hearing of the motion on notice.

The NYSC had on February 1, 2023 written a letter signed by Ibrahim Muhammed saying that the NYSC certificate belonging to Mbah was not issued by the corps.