In a recent development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favor of Enugu State Governor, Barrister Peter Mbah, dismissing allegations of forgery of a discharge certificate made against him by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, decided to dismiss these allegations due to the Corps’ inability to substantiate and defend the charges in accordance with the law.
In the judgment pertaining to the lawsuit brought by Governor Mbah against the NYSC, Justice Ekwo imposed a fine of N5 million on the NYSC. This sum is to be paid jointly to the plaintiff as a penalty for suppressing facts and conspiring against him in relation to these allegations.
The court’s decision was based on the unchallenged evidence provided by the plaintiff regarding the issuance of his discharge certificate by the NYSC in 2003, following his service at a law firm in Lagos. The NYSC failed to present counter-evidence, leading the court to conclude that the plaintiff had indeed completed the mandatory one-year service.
Justice Ekwo emphasized that the burden of proving forgery allegations rested heavily on the NYSC, and its failure to do so made the plaintiff’s evidence more compelling and credible.
Governor Mbah had initiated legal action against the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, in response to the publication of a disclaimer in which the NYSC denied issuing him a discharge certificate on January 6, 2003.
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