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Enugu Tribunal:  Mbah’s Forgery Saga Threatens NYSC Integrity- LP

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By Eddy Ochigbo, Abuja

As Enugu State awaits judgment from the Governorship Election Tribunal, a Labour Party Affiliate Group – Coalition for Good Governance, has said the Tribunal’s outcome would have significant impact on the integrity of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the sanctity of its discharge certificates.

The Tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano, had on August 16, reserved judgment after receiving addresses from parties to the matter saying the date for judgment will be communicated to parties.

However, President of the Coalition for Good Governance, Comrade Ken Asogwa in a statement in Abuja said all eyes were on the Tribunal as its decision would have serious legal and security implications on the integrity of the NYSC and the sanctity of its discharge certificates.

“The NYSC is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore, its discharge certificates must be held sacred.

“From the evidence adduced at the Tribunal, Peter Mbah of the PDP forged NYSC discharge Certificate according to officials who testified at the Tribunal hearing. The decision of the Tribunal, will therefore, determine whether individuals will be allowed to brazenly forge discharge certificate of NYSC without any sanctions,” Asogwa said in the statement.

“We are worried and concerned   about the desperate steps taken by Mbah to subvert the course of justice and we wish to urge the Tribunal to be firm on the side of justice so that this brazen act of forgery will not be swept under the carpet,” the Group also said in the statement.

“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,” Asogwa had said in an earlier statement published in the media.

The group also cited recent visit by Mbah to the presidency as another desperate move to wriggle out of the  NYSC forgery allegation.

“It was reported in the media that Peter Mbah held a closed meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock recently. What were they discussing behind closed doors? We figure that Mbah is looking for presidential backing to escape justice” the group claimed.

The group however, warned Mbah that his time was up saying it was confident that Tinubu as a democrat would not dabble into alleged criminal matters.

“We see these moves as antics of a desperate person, who wants to go down fighting,” the statement said.

Labour Party Claims at the Governorship Election Tribunal

In the petition before the Governorship Election Tribunal in Enugu, Candidate of Labour Party in the March 18, election, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga is contesting the declaration of Mbah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the state’s governorship election.

In his concluding address, Edeoga’s legal representative, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the tribunal to uphold his client’s position and grant the reliefs sought.

Awomolo argued that the evidence presented conclusively proved that Mbah was constitutionally ineligible to contest the election due to his presentation of a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate to INEC.

Awomolo referenced the testimony of the first Petitioner’s witness, an authority from the NYSC, who confirmed that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC. He further presented evidence indicating that Mbah did not actually collect NYSC certificate from the rightful office.

He called on the court to nullify the election results in 19 polling units in Udenu Local Government Area due to inaccurate computation and in 14 units in Nkanu East and Igbo-Etiti Council Areas due to over-voting.

Origin of NYSC Certificate Allegation

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) Act 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 by Mary N. Eijah.

In a reply dated February 1, 2023, a copy of which was 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 Ibrahim 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 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.

Mbah Allegedly Accepts Political Appointment while on National Service

While the election petition tribunal was still sitting and the NYSC certificate forgery allegation remained on the front burner of issues for consideration, another allegation emerged that Mbah accepted political appointment as Chief of Staff in the government of Enugu state, while still purportedly serving in the NYSC scheme.

A certified true copy (CTC) of Mbah’s appointment letter 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”.

DG NYSC Disowns Mbah’s Certificate

Although Mbah 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 weeks ago, directly contradicted the Governor, when he stated that Mbah’s discharge certificate was not issued  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 accessed from Youtube

The disclosure on Arise TV prompted Mbah to publicly state that he would slam a N20bn libel suit against the NYSC and its Director General.

However, nothing has been held from the case at the time of this report.

Asogwa called on the Judiciary to save the nation’s democracy by ensuring that justice was served in the Enugu Governorship petition by LP.

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UBA Raises N157bn Via Rights Issue to Boost Capital Base

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United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced plans to raise N157 billion through a rights issue.The disclosure was made via a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX).It said in a statement on Thursday that its stock brokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., had submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.

to that effect.
It added its stock brokers had requested for approval and listing of a Rights Issue of 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N50.
00 per share“Trading License Holders are hereby notified that United Bank for Africa Plc, through its Stockbrokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., has submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.” in that regard.
“The rights issue will be on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 13 ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.“The qualification date for the Rights Issue is July 16, 2025,” the bank noted.The move is part of UBA’s strategy to strengthen its capital base and support its expansion and growth objectives across Africa.(NAN)

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Benue Uncovers Over 4000 Substandard Schools

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Over 4000 substandard and illegal schools have been uncovered and ready to be shut down across the state.The chief press secretary to the Benue State Governor, Tersoo Kula disclosed this at a press conference in Makurdi.Kula was reacting to a statement credited to former commissioner for education and knowledge management, Prof.

Dennis Ityavyar, said that Governor Alia has stabilised the educational sector since coming on board two years ago.
”No more strikes. Schools are moving on smoothly and in a bid to bring teaching and learning closer to the people and address the problem of younger school leavers in securing admission into tertiary institutions, the governor has established a new university.
”The establishment of University of Agriculture Science and Technology Ihugh, Vandeikyaa LGA is real..The governor has secured the licence, acquired land and made appointments of principal officers.”This is to address the issue of providing admission for the teeming Benue indigenes seeking admission into Nigerian universities.”The Governor has employed over 9700 teachers to energize public primary schools in the state. Apart from the fact that our primary schools would be energized, 9700 youths have been taken off the streets.”The government of governor Alia has also paid the 38 months earned allowance owed to lecturers at the Moses Adasu University, formerly Benue State University Makurdi”, he said.He maintained that renovation of government secondary schools and colleges across the state are ongoing where ongoing construction of new structures is in some public primary and secondary schools to ensure conducive learning environment.”Public primary schools teachers are trained on ITCs to enhance the teaching and learning of information and technology innovations at elementary level.”This government has been able to identify over 4000 substandard schools in the state and have secured insurance cover for Benue State students and paid bursary allowances in law school students in the state”, Kula stated.Benue Moves to Domesticate National Policy on IDPsThe Benue State Government has commenced a validation process to domesticate the newly federal government policy on Internally Displaced Persons (PDP) in the State.Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management in the State, Aondowase Kunde, stated that upon stakeholders’ inputs into the Internally Displaced Persons policy document, it would be fully launched.He added that the aim is to improve the welfare of the displaced population in the state.Kunde stated this during a two policy validation meeting held at Benue Hotels Makurdi yesterday.He maintained that the document which was passed into law by the national assembly needed to be domesticated in the state in line with the peculiarities of the state.In his remarks, the chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Benue State House of assembly, James Abu Umoro, noted that the state has suffered so many natural and man-made disasters that it requires the policy to be domesticated in the state.Umoru insisted that the house will not hesitate to pass the document into law when presented by the executive arm of government.He said the issue of IDP in the state is a concern for everyone and must be given accelerated consideration at any point in time.On his part, House committee chairman on SDG and Donor Agencies, Peter Uche, noted that in most cases, communities have suffered attacks for more than ten years.”Let me therefore, call on all to support the implementation of the policy document for the displaced to return to their ancestral homes to start their normal farming and business activities”, he stated.The Director General, Sustainable Development Goals, John Akuse, who spoke at the occasion, said the validation of the IDP policy document is vital in paving the way for the displaced population to be adequately taken care of regarding their peculiar needs.

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Tinubu Honours Buhari, Renames University of Maiduguri after Late President

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By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University.

“May we now adopt the University of Maduguri as the Muhammadu Buhari University,” Tinubu said at the close of a special session of the Federal Executive Council held to honour Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

The President paid a glowing tribute to Buhari, describing him as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man” whose legacy of discipline, patriotism and moral uprightness would endure for generations.

Tinubu said although the late president was not without flaws, his unwavering commitment to national service set him apart.

“President Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man.

“His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.

“His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” he said.

Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office and his long military and civil service, Tinubu praised the late leader’s simplicity, humility, and stoic resistance to the trappings of power.

He said, “He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular.

“His was a quiet courage, a righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism lived more in action than in words.”

Tinubu also recounted their political alliance, which culminated in the historic 2015 elections that marked Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.

“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.

“When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint,” he said.

The President expressed admiration for Buhari’s post-office modesty, noting that he returned to his hometown, Daura, without seeking to wield influence behind the scenes.

“When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court, but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.

“Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life: not a sigh, not a groan, just a quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns,” he added.

Tinubu thanked the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, for organising a befitting state funeral within 48 hours, describing it as a “profound honour” to lead the burial procession in Daura.

He concluded his tribute with a prayer: “Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the Farmer President, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness. President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.”

Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82.

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