NBA Drags Tinubu’s Minister To Court Over Certificate

The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has been dragged to court by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law.

The organisation is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the Minister from office for allegedly violating the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.

They were also praying the court to compel the NYSC to nullify the certificates given to Musawa and a music promoter, Kenny Ogungbe, alleging that the issuance of the certificate was contrary to the provisions of NYSC Act Cap N84.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria had in August 2023, accused Musawa of serving as a minister while undertaking the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Similarly, in October 2023, Ogungbe caused a stir on social media when he shared a photo of himself in the NYSC uniform, announcing that he had finished NYSC at the age of 53.

The plaintiffs in the suit are the Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, NBA-SPIDEL, Funmi Adeogun.

Musawa, Ogungbe, NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria are the first to fourth defendants, respectively in the suit.

The plaintiffs alleged that it is unlawful, illegal, and an affront to patriotism to mobilise Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year national youth service after they had exceeded 30 years of age.

They also alleged that Musawa and Ogungbe’s purported national service and the certificates of service purportedly issued by the NYSC were null and void.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that they are not entitled to be engaged as employees by any employer of labour or services (including the Federal Government of Nigeria) without first possessing and presenting their certificates of national youth service.

They also want a declaration that the 1st defendant is not entitled to continue to hold the exalted office of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any public office in Nigeria after violently violating with flagrant impunity the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84, LFN 2004.”