Governor Mbah‘s lawsuit against NYSC. The Abuja Federal High Court has set July 11 as the date for the N20 billion suit filed by Enugu State Governor, Mr Peter Mbah, against the NYSC.
Judge Inyang Ekwo allowed a full hearing of the case while dismissing an application by Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party candidate in the state’s previous gubernatorial election, who sought to be involved in the matter. The court’s interim injunction order on May 15 prevented the NYSC from disowning the governor’s certificate of service used for his qualification in the March 18 gubernatorial election in Enugu State.
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The court ordered the restraining order be served on NYSC’s Director of Corps Certification, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad. The order was obtained ex parte by the governor, who was accused of submitting a forged NYSC certificate. Mbah applied to his team of lawyers, led by Mr Emeka Ozoani, SAN, who stated that he was issued a certificate of service No. A 808297 on January 6, 2003, countering the allegation against him.
After studying law and graduating from the University of East London in 2000, he returned to Nigeria and fulfilled the requirements to become a lawyer by enrolling in the Bar Part 1 programme at the Nigerian Law School. Following the completion of the Bar Part 1 exam, the plaintiff had to wait for the Bar Part II programme. He was urged to go ahead with the mandatory NYSC programme instead of wasting time idling around.
The plaintiff was first assigned to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Apapa Quays but was rejected. Then, the plaintiff hired the law firm of Ude & Associates. The plaintiff deferred NYSC to complete the bar final exam. Later, he finished the NYSC. He claimed being called up for NYSC in Lagos and serving as a corp member. Mbah alleged a plot to damage his reputation with an NYSC disclaimer disowning his certificate. Cited as the first and second defendants in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/611/2023 are NYSC and Director Muhammad. At the hearing on Tuesday, NYSC’s counsel, Mr Aminu Sadauki, appeared. He filed a preliminary objection to challenge the suit. Justice Ekwo warned against misrepresentation of court proceedings in the media.
