…Demands cancellation of their NYSC discharge certificates
Following what it considered the alleged violations of the provisions of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the section of the Nigerian Bar Association on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has filed a lawsuit against the Scheme, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Ms Hannatu Musawa and Music producer and Television presenter Kenny Ogungbe.
The suit with number FHC/ABJ/05/90/2024 which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja indicated that NBA-SPIDEL is seeking the determinations on whether Musawa and Ogungbe can voluntarily decide when to undergo the mandatory National Youth Service after graduating and qualifying.
The NBA-SPIDEL specifically queried the validity of the discharge certificates awarded to both Hannatu Musawa and Kenny Ogungbe and further stated that the two defendants failed to participate in the mandatory one year National Youth Service after graduating from university as required by the NYSC Act.
It also stated that Musawa enrolled in NYSC in 2023 but did not complete the service year, while Ogungbe only enrolled over 30 years after obtaining his bachelor’s degree.
The NBA-SPIDEL noted that the actions of both Hannatu Musawa and Ogungbe clearly violated sections of the NYSC Act related to the requirement for Nigerian graduates under the age of 30 to undergo compulsory National Service.
The NBA-SPIDEL therefore prayed the Court to nullify Musawa and Ogungbe’s NYSC discharge certificates, bar Musawa from holding public office as well as compel the Federal Government to prosecute the duo.
The plaintiff also urged the Court to compel the NYSC and the federal government that also defendants to comply with the provisions of the National Youth Service Corps Act as against allegedly enabling or failing to prevent the violations.
The NBA-SPIDEL said it was desirous of promoting the objectives of the NYSC scheme related to instilling discipline and national ethos in Nigerian youth just as it expressed concern that the prominent public figures could set a bad precedent by flouting the rules without any consequence.
Other reliefs sought by the NBA-SPIDEL include compelling the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice to prosecute the duo of Musawa and Ogungbe for deliberately failing to present themselves for service upon graduation as stipulated in the NYSC Act.
The NBA-SPIDEL had in December 2023, issued the NYSC a pre-action notice in which it demanded the prosecution of Musawa and Ogungbe over the youth service provision infringements.
A meeting between officials of the NBA-SPIDEL and the Director General of the NYSC failed to convince the legal body to back down from their action.
Commenting on the legal action embarked upon by the NBA-SPIDEL, Sadiya Saleh, Publicity Secretary of the group said that Hannatu Musawa and Ogungbe’s delayed participation till they crossed the mandatory ages 30-year age limit was unlawful, stressing that it therefore rendered their service year and discharge certificates invalid and void.
The court is expected to determine whether the allegations constitute violations of the NYSC Act warranting the requested remedies.
