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 23^rd 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.