Victor EzejaDirector General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig General Yusha’U Dogara Ahmed, has declared that the body did not issue any discharge certificate to the Enugu State Governor-elect, Barr Peter Mbah.
Brig Gen Ahmed made the declaration during his appearance as a guest on Arise Television’s breakfast programme on Friday to speak on NYSC at 50.
However, the NYSC boss said the argument on whether Mbah has a valid NYSC certificate or not, does not arise because he has told the PDP candidate in the 2023 governorship elections that what he presented as a certificate was fake.
He said: “They came to NYSC for verification and we said this certificate was not issued from us. I wonder why the issue of racketeering should come up when you are talking about an elite, somebody who is a graduate and enlightened. You obtained the certificate from where; you don’t know where you obtained the certificate and you don’t know how we issue our certificates? …you can’t go and collect certificates on the street or in a hotel room.”
He added: “The governor-elect came to me, I called my director of certification to confirm the certificate and we discovered that the certificate was fake. I was so frank and clear to him that this certificate is not from us.”
Mbah, who was declared winner of the 18 March governorship in Enugu State, has been enmeshed in controversies over the NYSC discharge certificate he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In February 2023, NYSC issued a letter signed by Ibrahim Muhammad, the scheme’s director of certifications, saying the certificate belonging to Mbah was not issued by the corps.
In April 2023, another letter disclaiming the certificate was again issued following another inquiry by an Aba-based law firm, Silver & Co. Associates.
Meanwhile, Mbah has reportedly, sued the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Ibrahim Muhammad, the scheme’s director of certifications, for N20 billion. This was after obtaining an exparte order from the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday, restraining the Corps from further issuing any disclaimer about his discharge certificate.
He is demanding compensation for what he described as conspiracy, deceit, and misrepresentation of facts.
Apart from N20 billion damages, Mbah is seeking a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme for one calendar year via a call-up letter numbered FRN/2001/800351 with the Lagos code LA/01/1532 and that he was issued a certificate of national service numbered A808297 upon completing his service year in 2003.
He further seeks a declaration that NYSC and its director for corps certification “conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed, and misrepresented facts” in voiding his certificate of national service.
Reacting to the purported suit by Mbah, the NYSC Director General said he was not aware of any suit, and will not respond based on hearsay.
“Concerning the suit, the NYSC has not been sued. I am yet to see anything from any court, all you are saying, I have been hearing from outside. I have not received any court order, but I must tell you, we do not tolerate certificate racketeering. If it is from any of our staff, that is not our problem. But that certificate is not from us,” he stated.
He said the corps does not tolerate certificate racketeering, adding that any staff caught indulging in such would be handed over to law enforcement authorities for prosecution.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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