29th January, 2024
…Musawa, Ogungbe recently completed serving in NYSC scheme
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development has dragged music promoter and entrepreneur, Kenny Ogungbe, the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa to court over their National Youth Service Corps, NYSC status.
In the suit, the NBA is asking the court to nullify the NYSC certificates issued to Ogungbe and Musawa.
It also asked the court to sack the Minister from office in the suit in which the NYSC and the Federal Government were also joined as defendants.
The NBA group said Ogungbe and Musawa violated the National Youth Service Corps Act in the manner they participated in the scheme.
The NBA section, in the suit in which Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun are plaintiffs, alleged that the issuance of the NYSC certificates to Musawa and Ogungbe was contrary to the provisions of Act Cap N84.LFN 2024 which established the scheme.
Specifically, the NBA section alleged that Musawa and Ogungbe were mobilised for the mandatory one-year national youth service after they had passed the 30 years age limit as stipulated in the Act, an action they described as 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 to them were null and void.
Consequently, 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.”
NYSC at 53
Ogungbe, the founder of Kennis Music had some months ago shared photos from his Passing Out Parade (POP) from the NYSC scheme at the age of 53 which went viral on social media.
“NYSC graduation/POP today. Lagos/12C graduation day. To God be the glory,” Ogungbe who participated in the Batch C Stream of the scheme completed on Thursday, October 12, 2023 wrote to the surprise of many since under the NYSC Act, all graduates under the age of 30 are required to participate in the one-year mandatory national service scheme.
The Minister and Youth Corps member
Also, following controversies on her NYSC status after she was appointed Minister, Musawa confirmed that she was still participating in the scheme though she was first mobilised in 2001.
Musawa also asserted that she had not broken any law by participating in the NYSC scheme many years after she graduated from the University and being appointed a minister.
But Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN disputed the claim.
“It is true I am currently on the NYSC national service which I began 8 months ago as a matter of duty and devotion to my country, having been unable to complete the scheme since I was first mobilised in 2001.
“I started the mandatory national service as a Corp member deployed to Akwa-Ibom State (pls confirm state) in 2001 upon the completion of my university education. I could not complete the service same year after my redeployment to Kaduna State due to family obligations. Despite this, it has been my personal resolve and commitment that I will always fulfil this national duty whenever I am opportune to do so.
“I applied to NYSC to be mobilised again for national service last year. NYSC graciously mobilised and deployed me to serve in Abuja where I have been serving in the last 8 months before my current appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I will like to state clearly that contrary to wrong insinuations and false assumptions in a section of the mainstream media and social media where false accusations have been made, there is no breach of any law or constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended regarding my current position as a Minister and status as serving Corp member.
“I will continue to serve my country using every opportunity and platform. My current NYSC status which will end in another 4 months will not in anyway impede the discharge of my duties as Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, which, on its own, is a higher call to national service.