By Prosper Okoye, Abuja

The controversy surrounding the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah’s participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), may be deeper following the revelation that he may have been appointed into public office while still participating in the national service.

By the extant statute, all university graduates and holders of HND certificates below the age of 30 must mandatorily participate in the NYSC scheme except where exempted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NYSC Act

Mbah, who assumed office on May 29, as Governor of Enugu state is standing trial before an Abuja Court over allegations of forgery of NYSC discharge certificate.

While the certificate saga ensues, DAILY ASSET learnt at the weekend that Mbah was yet to complete the one year duration of National Service before he was offered a political appointment in Enugu state.

A certified true copy (CTC) of Mbah’s appointment as Chief of Staff to Enugu State Governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY ASSET, showed that Mbah was appointed to the office on July 14, 2003, two clear months ahead of the September date he claimed to have completed his national service.

The appointment letter signed by Innocent M. Agbo (KSP), Secretary to Enugu State government and addressed to “Barrister Peter Mbah” with reference “ENS/SSG/M.073/XIII/27” stated:

“I am pleased to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani; has approved your appointment as Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu. The appointment took effect from July 10, 2003.

“The emoluments applicable to this appointment are as contained in category 5 of the attached Harmonised Salaries Table for top public office holders in the state.

“It is hoped that Enugu state will benefit immensely from your experience and hard work as a result of this appointment. Congratulations”.

Two weeks ago, a group known as Labour Party Coalition for Good Governance led by its National Coordinator, Ken Asogwa had raised the alarm at a press conference in Abuja, that Mbah was on “voyage” to procure court judgment to apparently forestall the consideration of the forged certificate matter in Courts of competent jurisdiction including the Enugu state election petitions tribunal, where his victory is being contested by the Labour Party.

“You may recall that the newly sworn-in governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has been on a voyage of forum shopping in a desperate attempt to illegally keep himself in power.

“It is this desperation that has led him to different courts in both Enugu and Abuja, where he has made efforts to procure black market judgements to forestall the inquiry into how he procured the fake NYSC discharge certificate that he parades.

“In one of such desperate moves by Mbah, he made attempts to gag the NYSC by getting a pliant judge to issue him with a black market order that sought to abridge and erode the powers of the Enugu State Governorship Election Tribunal and the NYSC, constitutionally created bodies, from carrying out their statutory and constitutional functions.

“Since the revelation by the NYSC and its Director-General that the newly sworn-in governor of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mbah, parades a forged NYSC discharge certificate, the governor has launched a syndicated campaign of calumny against the NYSC and its Director-General.

“At a time when the NYSC is celebrating 50 years of unblemished existence and service to Nigerians, Peter Mbah should be restrained by all well-meaning Nigerians before he destroys that revered institution.

“The above exhortation is vital given that the governor, like a bull in a China Shop, has a litany of inglorious past records of a penchant for the destruction of revered institutions of government,” Asogwa alleged at the press conference.

Mbah’s alleged certificate forgery came to the fore when an Abuja-based law firm, Omas &Partners wrote to the NYSC on November 23, 2022 invoking the freedom of information (FOI) to seek verification of his discharge certificate.

The letter titled: Application for information on the NYSC status of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and confirmation of the certificate attached herein: This application is pursuant to section 1 of Freedom of Information Act 2011” was signed Mary N.  Eijah.

In a reply dated February 1, 2023, a copy of which as obtained by DAILY ASSET, NYSC disowned the discharge certificate in Mbah’s possession saying it didn’t emanate from its office.

The letter with reference: NYSC/CCD/VERC/10/S.VOLII/02, signed by Ibrahima A. Muhammad, Director, Corps Certification for Director General stated:

“I am directed to refer to your letter dated 23rd November 2022 on the above subject and to convey Management’s delight for compliance with the provision of NYSC Act regarding presentation of the Certificate of National Service or Exemption Certificate by employees/prospective employees holding Degree and HND Certificates.

“We are pleased to to inform you that the Certificate of National Service belonging to Mbah Peter Ndubuisi with Certificate Number: A808297 forwarded for verification was not issued by the NYSC.”

The matter is pending for determination before the Abuja High Court.

Although the Governor has repeatedly stated that he completed the mandatory one year NYSC programme in September, 2003

Director General of NYSC, Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, had in an Arise Television interview three weeks ago again contradicted the Govrnor, when he stated that Mbah’s discharge certificate was not from his office and that it may have been forged.

“They came to us for verification and we told them this certificate is not from us. I was very clear and frank to him that this certificate is not from us” he said in the Arise TV interview, a clip of which DAILY ASSET viewed from YouTube

The development prompted the Governor to slam N20bn libel suit against the NYSC and its Director General.