On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the accusation of forging a discharge certificate against Enugu State Governor, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, made by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo rejected these allegations because the NYSC was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims as required by the law.
In a lawsuit filed by the governor against the NYSC, the judge imposed a fine of N5 million on the NYSC, to be paid jointly to the governor. This penalty was imposed for the NYSC’s actions of concealing facts and conspiring against the governor in these serious accusations.
The court concluded that, based on the uncontested evidence presented by the governor, which demonstrated that he had received his discharge certificate in 2003 from the NYSC after completing his service at a law firm in Lagos, and the NYSC’s failure to present any counter-evidence, it was evident that the governor had completed his mandatory one-year service.
Justice Ekwo emphasized that the burden of proving forgery allegations rested heavily on the NYSC, and they had failed to meet this burden, making the governor’s evidence more compelling and credible.
Mbah had filed a lawsuit against the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, for publicly disavowing the discharge certificate issued to him on January 6, 2003.
Further details will be provided later.