Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North, PDP) has given the director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 48 hours to retract his statement that she “absconded” from service.
NYSC DG told a group identified as Concerned Anambra North Peoples Democratic Party Stakeholders in a letter dated May 24 and signed on his behalf by the director, press and public relations, Eddy Megwa, that Oduah commenced her NYSC programme in 1982, but absconded.
Oduah threatened legal action in a press statement on Thursday by her spokesman Ezennia Chukwudebe if the NYSC statement is not retracted in 48 hours.
The lawmaker posted the statement to Facebook alongside a picture of herself in the NYSC uniform.
“Our attention has been called to your scandalous letter referenced above in which you acknowledged that Sen. Stella Oduah was mobilized for youth service in 1982 and served in the Lagos orientation camp but then concluded that she ‘absconded’ and was not issued a certificate of discharge,” the statement said.
“That reckless statement which we consider grossly irresponsible no doubt suggests that it was procured from you for political considerations in favour of Sen. Oduah’s political detractors. We are shocked that you condescended so low to make such false and unverified conclusions which is damaging to her character and image.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Oduah’s NYSC place of primary assignment was the popular Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA). When a similar allegation was made by her political contenders in 2017, NECA issued a letter dated 11th January 2017 Ref No: NECA/SELA/H4 confirming that she carried out her NYSC primary assignment with them. Find attached a copy of that letter for reference as well as a photograph of our client as a youth corper
“That issue also attended litigation and she has a court judgment in her favour in the case of Chinedu Emmanuel Emeka v. Princess Stella Oduah EPT/AWK/SEN/13/2019.”
It added, “You are by this letter given 48 hours to retract your statement failing which legal actions shall be commenced against you.”
