The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has sued the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and record label executive, Kenny Ogungbe over their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
The NBA in its petition said the certificates of service purportedly issued by the NYSC to both of them were null and void.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law, is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu, Musawa from office for allegedly violating the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act,” the statement read.
“The NBA is also asking the court to compel the NYSC to nullify the certificates given to Musawa and a music promoter, Kenny Ogungbe, because the issuance of the certificate was contrary to the provisions of NYSC Act Cap N84.”
According to the NBA, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, NBA-SPIDEL, Funmi Adeogun.
The plaintiffs were against the mobilisation of Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year national youth service.
They alleged that their mobilisation after exceeding the age of 30 was unlawful, illegal, and an affront to patriotism in Nigeria as a nation.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that both Musawa and Ogungbe are not entitled to be engaged as employees by any employer of labour or services.
NBA said this includes employment with the Federal Government of Nigeria without first possessing and presenting their certificates of national youth service.
“We also want 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,” the NBA said.
