The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has sued the minister of art, culture and creative economy Hannatu Musawa and music executive Kenny Ogungbe for allegedly violating the National Youth Service Corps Act.
The organisation also asked the court to compel the NYSC to nullify the certificates given to Musawa and Ogungbe, alleging that the issuance of the certificate was contrary to the provisions of NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.
Last August, it was reported that Musawa was undertaking the one-year mandatory NYSC scheme while serving the country as minister.
Ogungbe, on the other hand, stirred controversy on social media in October 2023 when he shared a photo of himself in the NYSC uniform, announcing that he had completed the programme at the age of 53.
The plaintiffs in the suit marked FCH/ABJ/05/90/2024 are the chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, John Aikpokpo-Martins; and its secretary, Funmi Adeogun.
Musawa, Ogungbe, NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria are the first to fourth defendants, respectively in the suit.
Minister of arts Hannatu Musawa is serving corps member — NYSC
Kenny Ogungbe shares photos of self in NYSC uniform
The plaintiffs alleged that the mobilisation of Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year national youth service after exceeding 30 years of age was unlawful, illegal, and an affront to patriotism.
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 “by virtue of the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 LFN 2004, the 1st and 2nd defendants 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.
“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.”
