By Yinka Akanbi
A lawsuit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; and music producer and executive, Kenny Ogungbe, has prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify Musawa and Ogungbe’s NYSC discharge certificates.
The association also asked the court to bar Musawa from public office, and compel the Federal Government to prosecute the defendants for alleged violations of the NYSC Act’s provisions.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/05/90/2024 filed on Thursday, NBA-SPIDEL is seeking determinations on whether Musawa and Ogungbe can voluntarily decide when to undergo the mandatory National Youth Service after qualifying.
While querying the validity of the discharge certificates awarded to both defendants by the NYSC, NBA also argues that their actions violate relevant sections of the NYSC Act related to the requirement for Nigerian graduates under the age of 30 to undergo national service.
The plaintiffs allege that Musawa and Ogungbe failed to participate in the mandatory one year national youth service after graduating from university as required by the NYSC Act.
According to them, Musawa enrolled in NYSC in 2003 but did not complete the service year, while Ogungbe only enrolled over 30 years after obtaining his bachelor’s degree.
The plaintiffs stated the lawsuit aims to promote the objectives of the NYSC scheme relating to instilling discipline and national ethos in Nigerian youths.
They expressed concern that the prominent public figures could set a bad precedent by flouting the rules without consequence.
Further relief sought includes compelling the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute the defendants for failure to make themselves available for service immediately upon graduation as stipulated in the Act.
In addition to Musawa and Ogungbe case, the National Youth Service Corps and the Federal Government of Nigeria were also named as defendants for allegedly enabling or failing to prevent the violations.
Recall that Ogungbe, a broadcaster and music impresario, announced last year that he had enrolled for the youth service, while posing the the NYSC uniform.
Musawa, who was named a Minister last August, had sonce been embroiled in a controversy over the realisation that she is observing the national youth corps scheme while still functioning first as Special Adviser to President Tinubu and currently as Minister.
