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The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has filed a lawsuit against music producer, Kenny Ogungbe.
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy was also sued in the subpoena challenging the validity of their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleges that both Ogungbe and Musawa enrolled in the mandatory one-year NYSC program after exceeding the age of 30, which violates the NYSC Act.
The Act stipulates that all Nigerian graduates under the age of 30 must participate in the program.
The Organisation argue that the mobilization and subsequent service of Ogungbe and Musawa at a time when they were no longer eligible was "unlawful, illegal, and an affront to patriotism."
They also claim that their purported NYSC service and the certificates issued by the NYSC are null and void.
Reasons for the Lawsuit:
The NBA-SPIDEL outlines several reasons for their action:
- Setting a bad precedent: They argue that allowing prominent figures like Ogungbe and Musawa to bypass the NYSC requirement sets a bad precedent and could encourage others to do the same.
- Upholding the rule of law: The lawsuit emphasizes the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their status, is subject to the same rules and regulations.
- Promoting equity and fairness: The plaintiffs believe that allowing Ogungbe and Musawa to avoid the NYSC program creates an unfair advantage for them compared to other graduates who complied with the law.
Reliefs Sought:
The NBA-SPIDEL is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
- A declaration that the mobilization and service of Ogungbe and Musawa after the age of 30 was illegal and invalid.
- An order nullifying the NYSC discharge certificates was issued to Ogungbe and Musawa.
- A bar against Ogungbe from holding public office until he completes the mandatory NYSC service.
- An order directing the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute Ogungbe and Musawa for failure to make themselves available for service immediately upon graduation as stipulated in the NYSC Act.
Potential Implications:
This lawsuit has the potential to raise important questions about the NYSC program and its enforcement.
It could also lead to stricter enforcement of the age requirement and potentially result in the cancellation of other discharge certificates issued to individuals who participated in the program after exceeding the age of 30.
