The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has initiated legal proceedings against the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and music executive Kenny Ogungbe, alleging a breach of the National Youth Service Corps Act.
The organization has petitioned the court to compel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to invalidate the certificates issued to Musawa and Ogungbe, asserting that the issuance of the certificates was in violation of the NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.
In August of the previous year, reports emerged that Musawa was participating in the one-year mandatory NYSC scheme while concurrently serving as a minister.
Ogungbe sparked controversy on social media in October 2023 when he shared a photo of himself in the NYSC uniform, announcing the completion of the program at the age of 53.
The plaintiffs in the suit, identified as the Chairman (John Aikpokpo-Martins) and Secretary (Funmi Adeogun) of NBA-SPIDEL, have named Musawa, Ogungbe, NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
The plaintiffs contend that the mobilization of Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year national youth service after surpassing the age of 30 was unlawful, illegal, and a challenge to patriotism. They also assert that the purported national service and certificates of service issued by the NYSC to Musawa and Ogungbe are null and void.
The legal action seeks a declaration that, based on the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 LFN 2004, the first and second defendants are not entitled to be employed by any employer of labor or services without first possessing and presenting their NYSC certificates.
Furthermore, they seek a declaration that Musawa is not entitled to continue holding the position of Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any public office after violating the provisions of the NYSC Act.