The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has emerged triumphant in his legal battle against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The court has issued a restraining order against the NYSC, preventing them from further denying the certificate of completion issued to Governor Mbah.
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered a resounding judgment on Monday, underscoring that the evidence presented before the court clearly established Governor Mbah's proper participation in the NYSC program, along with the issuance of a certificate of completion by the NYSC.
Justice Ekwo strongly criticized the NYSC's claims that they did not issue the certificate that Governor Mbah submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the last governorship election, asserting that the NYSC had misrepresented the facts.
Furthermore, the judge found fault with the NYSC for their failure to produce essential files containing information about Governor Mbah's participation in the program, emphasizing that the NYSC had handled the case with negligence and carelessness.
Governor Peter Mbah, even before his inauguration on May 29, took the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, to court. He accused them of publishing a disclaimer on January 6, 2003, which denied the issuance of a discharge certificate to him and sought compensation of N20 billion.
In a consequential decision, the court has now awarded N5 million in damages against the NYSC in favor of Governor Mbah. This legal victory marks a significant turning point in the ongoing dispute, reinforcing the importance of upholding the integrity of the National Youth Service Corps and the rights of those who have completed the program.
