Prominent Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has issued a fervent call to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), urging it to refrain from being manipulated by destructive politicians for their own agendas.
Olajengbesi voiced his concerns while critiquing the NYSC for what he perceives as a lack of due diligence in the recent certificate and alleged forgery case involving Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Olajengbesi expressed his dismay, stating, “It is regrettable that NYSC certificates have now become tools for settling political scores, and even more unfortunate is the fact that certain unscrupulous NYSC officials have seemingly aligned themselves with the manipulative schemes of morally compromised politicians.”
The lawyer also extended his commendation to the judiciary for upholding justice in the matter, adding, “The absence of due diligence on the part of the NYSC leaves much to be desired.”
Olajengbesi urged the Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Dogara Ahmed, to take proactive measures to reorganize the service and instill discipline, particularly within its staff, in order to prevent further embarrassment to the organization.
This call comes in the wake of a recent judgment on Monday, where a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the allegations of forgery against Governor Mbah and imposed a fine of N5 million on the NYSC for erroneously asserting that the governor’s discharge certificate was counterfeit. In delivering the judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo affirmed the authenticity and validity of the certificate presented by Mbah to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case has raised concerns about the accuracy and credibility of NYSC documentation, prompting calls for the organization to uphold its integrity and ensure that its certificates are not misused for political purposes.
