Enugu Gov-elect blasts N20bn suit on NYSC

The Enugu state governor-elect, Mr. Peter Mbah, has filed a N20 billion suit against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Federal High Court over alleged conspiracy, deceit, and misrepresentation of facts.

Supreme reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo had on Monday, upon a motion ex parte by Mbah’s counsel, Mr. Emeka Ozoani (SAN), a sequel to the lawsuit, stopped NYSC from disclaiming Mbah’s certificate.

In the suit, Mbah is equally seeking a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme via a call-up letter number FRN/2001/800351; Lagos code LA/01/1532; and, upon completion, was issued a certificate of National Service No. A808297.

The governor-elect also alleged that the corps conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed facts, and misrepresented them in the supposition that his certificate of national service with number A808297 was not issued by them.

According to him, this is a fact they know is untrue and incorrect, which act he said constitutes an act of conspiracy.

He also wants a declaration that the defendants negligently and maliciously misrepresented material facts, which the defendants knew or ought to know were untrue and ought reasonably to have foreseen that damages would flow from such negligent misrepresentation of material facts.

An affidavit in support of the motion on notice deposed by Ms. Grace Udeagha stated, among others, that Mbah, after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, returned to Nigeria.

She also deposed in the affidavit that, as a prerequisite to practicing as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mbah applied and was admitted into the Bar Part I program of the Nigerian Law School.

She further deposed that the plaintiff, upon completing the Bar Part I exam, had to wait for the Bar Part II program.

“That the plaintiff, in view of the above, was called up for the NYSC and was deployed to Lagos State, with the following particulars: Mbah Peter Ndubuisi; Call-up letter No. 01134613; reference No. NYSC/FRN/2001/800351.

“That the plaintiff, in the course of his NYSC program aforesaid, and after six months of NYSC, the Nigerian Law School scheduled the commencement of the Bar Part II program, usually called Bar Finals.

“The plaintiff was offered admission to the Nigerian Law School by a letter dated June 20, 2002. The plaintiff applied to the State Director, NYSC, for deferment of NYSC year 2001/2002.

“Pursuant to paragraph 12 the NYSC directorate headquarters vide Ref: NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/27 approved the plaintiff’s application for deferment of NYSC Ref: LA/01/1532 of Aug. 6, 2002.

“That the plaintiff, upon completion of his NYSC service, was issued NYSC certificate No. A808297 dated January 6, 2003, certifying that he completed the one year of NYSC from January 7, 2002, to January 6, 2003.”.

No date has been fixed to hear the motion.