A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from further disclaiming the certificate of national service number: A808297 issued to Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, also awarded N5 million damages against thr NYSC for alleging that the corps’ discharged certificate held by Gov. Mbah was fake.
Justice Ekwo held that the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad, who were defendants in the suit, were guilty of misrepresentation of material facts.
The judge equally held that the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Mbah was authentic and validly issued by the NYSC.
He further held that evidence before the court showed that the governor though was mobilised for service in 2001, he, however, completed his service in 2003.
According to the court, Mbah, midway into his service, sought and after received permission from NYSC to attend the Nigeria Law School, was reinstated into the NYSC in 2003.
Besides, the judge said that while the evidence that Mbah served in the law firm of one Udeh was not challenged by the NYSC, he berated the corps for not charging the governor for forgery if they actually believed that they didn’t issue the said NYSC certificate to him.
He concluded that the NYSC was mischievous and acted in bad faith by denying Mbah’s NYSC certificate.