The Federal High Court Abuja has ruled in favor of the Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah confirming his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as authentic.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Nyang Ekwo held the Director-General of the NYSC and the institution guilty of misrepresentation of material facts.
Justice Ekwo further awarded N5 million in damages against the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for alleging that the corps’ discharge certificate held by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was fake.
Evidence tendered in the court shows Dr. Peter Mbah started his compulsory youth service in year 2001 and completed same in 2003; the break in the service year is as a result that midway into his service, he sought and received permission from NYSC to attend the Nigeria Law School after which he was reinstated in 2003.
Recall that Governor Mbah sued NYSC and Director of Corps Certification, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad, for publishing a disclaimer denying the issuance of a discharge certificate issued to him on January 6, 2003.
Following an ex parte motion moved by Mbah’s counsel, Mr Emeka Ozoani (SAN), Justice Ekwo on May 15, 2023 restrained the NYSC, Muhammad, and any of their agents from such publications pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
Governor Peter Mbah contested for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Enugu under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday 18th of March, 2023, and was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
