Mr. Peter Mbah, the incoming governor of Enugu state, has filed a lawsuit against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Mbah has filed a N20 billion lawsuit against NYSC in the Federal High Court, alleging conspiracy, fraud, and misrepresentation of the facts.
In response to the lawsuit, Justice Inyang Ekwo stopped NYSC from revoking Mbah’s certificate on Monday based on an ex-parte motion by Mbah’s attorney, Mr. Emeka Ozoani (SAN). Mbah is also seeking a declaration in the suit that he participated in the NYSC programme via call-up letter number FRN/2001/800351; Lagos code LA/01/1532 and was issued certificate of National Service number A808297 upon completion.
The governor-elect also claimed that the corps conspired by fraudulent design, concealed and misrepresented facts in the belief that they did not issue his certificate of national service with the number A808297. According to him, they are aware that this is untrue and incorrect, and that this act constitutes a conspiracy. He also seeks a declaration that the defendants negligent and maliciously misrepresented facts, which the defendants know or ought to know to be false, and that the defendants ought to have foreseen that such negligent misrepresentation of material facts would result in damages.
Ms. Grace Udeagha’s affidavit in support of the motion on notice stated, among other things, that Mbah returned to Nigeria in 2000 after receiving his law degree from the University of East London. She also stated in the affidavit that, in order to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mbah had to apply to and be accepted into the Bar Part I programme of the Nigerian Law School.
She also testified that the plaintiff was required to wait for the Bar Part II programme after passing the Bar Part I exam. “That, in light of the foregoing, the plaintiff was called up for the NYSC and assigned to Lagos State, with the following details: Mbah Peter Ndubuisi; Request letter number 01134613; reference number NYSC/FRN/2001/800351. “That the plaintiff, in the course of his NYSC service and after six months of service, was scheduled to begin the Bar Part II programme, also known as Bar Finals, at the Nigerian law school.
“In a letter dated June 20, 2002, the plaintiff was offered admission to the Nigerian Law School. The plaintiff applied to the State Director, NYSC, for deferment of NYSC year 2001/2002. “In accordance with paragraph 12, the NYSC headquarters vide Ref. NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/27 approved the plaintiff’s request for a deferral of NYSC Ref. LA/01/1532 dated August 6, 2002. “That, upon completion of his NYSC service, the plaintiff was issued NYSC certificate No. A808297 dated January 6, 2003, certifying that he served for one year from January 7, 2002 to January 6, 2003.”