NBA drags Minister Musawa, Kenneth Ogunbe to court, seeks nullification of controversial NYSC certificates
Story from Jamila Yunusa SULEIMAN
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked the court to nullify the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate issued to the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa and entrepreneur and music promoter Kenneth Ogunbe.
The suit was filed by the public interest and development section of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The NBA section, in the suit which its Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun are plaintiffs, alleged that the issuance of the NYSC certificates to Musawa and Ogungbe was contrary to the provisions of Act Cap N84.LFN 2024 which established the scheme.
The suit was filed after the founder of Kennis Music shared photos from his Passing Out Parade (POP) from the NYSC scheme months ago at the age of 53 with the caption “NYSC graduation/POP today. Lagos/12C graduation day. To God be the glory,” on Thursday, October 12, 2023.
Hannatu Musawa was appointed by his Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy. Her appointment has sparked several controversies due to her NYSC status.
Following controversies on her NYSC status after she was appointed Minister, Musawa confirmed that she was still participating in the scheme though she was first mobilised in 2001.
Musawa proclaimed she had not violated any law by partaking in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) several years after she had graduated from the university.
Ensue her claims, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana a Lagos lawyer disputed her claims that she had not violated the law.
However, in her statement she stated, “It is true I am currently on the NYSC national service which I began eight months ago as a matter of duty and devotion to my country, having been unable to complete the scheme since I was first mobilised in 2001.
“I started the mandatory national service as a corp member deployed to Akwa-Ibom State in 2001 upon the completion of my university education. I could not complete the service same year after my redeployment to Kaduna State due to family obligations.
“Despite this, it has been my personal resolve and commitment that I will always fulfil this national duty whenever I am opportune to do so.
“I applied to NYSC to be mobilised again for national service last year. NYSC graciously mobilised and deployed me to serve in Abuja where I have been serving in the last eight months before my current appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I will like to state clearly that contrary to wrong insinuations and false assumptions in a section of the mainstream media and social media where false accusations have been made, there is no breach of any law or constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended regarding my current position as a Minister and status as a serving corp member.
“I will continue to serve my country using every opportunity and platform. My current NYSC status which will end in another 4 months will not in any way impede the discharge of my duties as Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, which, on its own, is a higher call to national service.
The NBA section stated that Hannatu Musawa and Kenneth Ogunbe were mobilised for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) defying the 30-year age limit as conjectural in the act. This action has been described by the NBA section as unlawful and detrimental to patriotism.
Consequently, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that, “By virtue of the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 LFN 2004, the 1st and 2nd defendants are not entitled to be engaged as employees by any employer of labour or services (including the Federal Government of Nigeria) without first possessing and presenting their certificates of National Youth Service.
It also alleged that the manner which Musawa and Ogunbe participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is violating. Hence, the certificate should be declared null and void , and Musawa should be sacked as a minister of the Federal Government on this basis.
“A declaration that the 1st defendant is not entitled to continue to hold the exalted office of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any public office in Nigeria after violently violating with flagrant impunity the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84, LFN 2004,” the NBA insisted.
