BREAKING: Enugu Gov Mbah defeats NYSC in court

A federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the allegations of forgery of a discharge certificate brought against Enugu State Governor, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo, ruled in favor of Governor Mbah, citing the Corps’ failure to substantiate their claims.

The judge imposed a fine of N5 million on the NYSC, to be paid jointly to Governor Mbah, for suppressing facts and conspiring against him in the allegations. The court found that the unchallenged evidence provided by the governor regarding the issuance of the discharge certificate in 2003 after his service in a Lagos law firm, combined with the Corps’ inability to present counter-evidence, demonstrated that he had completed the mandatory one-year service.

Justice Ekwo emphasized that the onus to prove forgery allegations rested with the NYSC, and they had failed to meet this burden, making Governor Mbah’s evidence more compelling and credible.

Governor Mbah had taken legal action against the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, following a disclaimer issued by the NYSC, denying the authenticity of the discharge certificate issued to him on January 6, 2003.