Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has filed a court application against the Director-General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed. Mbah claims that the DG violated a court order issued on May 15, which prohibited him or his agency from publishing a disclaimer regarding Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate. If the Federal High Court in Abuja grants Mbah’s prayers, Brig-Gen Ahmed risks being imprisoned for contempt of court.
In the application, filed on June 22, Mbah alleges that the NYSC DG, during a television interview on May 19, stated that Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate was not issued by the NYSC. This statement contradicted the court order. Consequently, Mbah filed the application, seeking the DG’s imprisonment for contempt of court.
Although the scheduled motion was not heard on June 23, the case has been adjourned until July 4 for further proceedings. The lawsuit was originally filed by Mbah against the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad, for publishing a disclaimer denying the issuance of Mbah’s discharge certificate. The court had issued an order on May 15, restraining the NYSC and Muhammad from engaging in such publication until the substantive matter is heard and determined.
Mbah’s motion was based on several grounds, including his completion of the mandatory one-year NYSC program and the subsequent issuance of his discharge certificate. The governor graduated in Law from the University of East London in 2000 and returned to Nigeria to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. He was advised to undertake the NYSC program while waiting to complete the Bar part 2 program. After being initially rejected by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Apapa in Lagos, Mbah served at the law firm of Ude & Associates during his NYSC program. He applied and was granted approval to defer the NYSC to complete his bar final exam, after which he remobilized and successfully completed the NYSC program, obtaining his certificate of National Service.
The case is significant as it involves a clash between the governor and the NYSC DG, with potential implications for the DG’s compliance with the court order. As the legal proceedings continue, the court will determine whether the DG should face imprisonment for contempt of court, based on the alleged violation of the order restraining the NYSC from publishing a disclaimer regarding Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate.