A Federal High Court in Abuja issued a judgment on Monday, awarding N5 million in damages against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its allegations that the discharge certificate held by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was fraudulent.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgment, found both the Director-General of the NYSC and the corps guilty of misrepresenting crucial facts.
The judge also declared that the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Governor Mbah was genuine and had been validly issued by the NYSC.
Justice Ekwo further stated that the evidence before the court confirmed that the governor, though mobilized for service in 2001, completed his service in 2003.
He clarified that during his service, Governor Mbah sought and was granted permission by the NYSC to attend the Nigeria Law School, after which he was reinstated into the NYSC in 2003.
The judge criticized the NYSC for failing to charge the governor with forgery, concluding that the corps had acted in bad faith by denying Mbah’s NYSC certificate.
Governor Peter Mbah had taken legal action against the NYSC and its Director of Corps Certification, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad, after they published a disclaimer denying the issuance of his discharge certificate on January 6, 2003.
Previously, on May 15, Justice Ekwo had issued an order restraining the NYSC, Muhammad, and their agents from making such publications pending the outcome of the case. This order followed an ex parte motion initiated by Governor Mbah’s counsel, Mr. Emeka Ozoani (SAN).
The NYSC, in response, filed a preliminary objection on May 22, seeking the dismissal of the case because Governor Mbah did not follow the proper appeal process to the president as required by the National Youth Service Corps Act.
It is worth noting that Governor Peter Mbah, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared the winner of the Enugu state governorship election held on March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
