NBA-SPIDEL Demands NYSC Prosecute Ogungbe, Musawa for Flouting Service Rules

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has petitioned the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over violations of the NYSC Act by media personality Kenny Ogungbe and Minister of Arts and Culture Hannatu Musawa.

In the petition signed by its Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun, the NBA section expressed concern over Ogungbe’s recent purported service despite failing to make himself available for the mandatory one year service after graduation. NBA-SPIDEL also noted that Musawa absconded from service in 2003 and has now abandoned her primary assignment for a second time while serving as a federal minister.

The legal body accused the NYSC of condoning and encouraging these “unpatriotic violations” which inform Nigerians that “some are above the law.”

To address the matter, NBA-SPIDEL has given the DG NYSC a 7-day ultimatum to withdraw Ogungbe’s discharge certificate and immediately de-mobilize Musawa. The body further demanded that the NYSC prosecute both of them within a month to deter similar acts by other Nigerian graduates.

Failure by the NYSC to meet these demands, the NBA section threatened, will leave it no choice but to seek judicial intervention.

The petitions come amidst growing calls for accountability from public agencies and serving officials. The violations spotlighted by NBA-SPIDEL strike at the heart of a scheme set up to instill patriotism in Nigerian graduates at the start of their careers.

The Director General,
National Youth Service Corp,
NYSC Headquarters,
Plot 416, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama.
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

ABSCONDMENT, PURPORTED MOBILISATION AND DISCHARGE OF MR. KENNY OGUNGBE AND ABSCONDMENT OF HANNATU MUSA MUSAWA, WHO IS PRESENTLY A MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLLIC OF NIGERIA. .

The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has been drawn to news reports that have gone viral regarding the mobilisation and purported compulsory service of Mr. Kenny Ogungbe and the abscondment of Hannatu Musa Musawa under the National Youth Service scheme.

NBA-SPIDEL is informed that Mr. Kenny Ogungbe outrightly refused, failed, and/or neglected to make himself available for the compulsory one (1) year service immediately after graduation from his institution of higher education as required by the NYSC Act. That Hannatu Musa Musawa was mobilised for service in or about the year 2003, but absconded thereafter without completing the mandatory 1 year in service as required by law.

NBA-SPIDEL is also aware that in spite of this aberration, the said Kenny Ogungbe and Hannatu Musa Musawa were purportedly mobilized for service by your establishment this year. Whereas, Mr., Ogungbe has been issued his discharge certificate which he celebrated on the social media, Hannatu Musa Musawa has again absconded and has abandoned her area of primary assignment for the 2nd time, and now in full employment and partisan politics as the current Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NBA-SPIDEL is very concerned that your office has not only condoned these violent violations of the sacred provisions and patriotic objectives of the NYSC, but has seemingly encouraged and actively participated in the unpatriotic violations and debasing of the NYSC Act. By your actions sir, you have consciously informed Nigerians that some Nigerians are above the law, and that some graduates need not undergo the mandatory NYSC Service or that with the right buttons being pressed, NYSC service can be deferred for years or decades by any graduate who may so desire and at his/her whims return to purportedly serve at old age like just Mr. Kenny Ogungbe or that a corper can continually abscond from service without consequences like Hannatu Musa Musawa.

Sir, by this petition, NBA-SPIDEL now seeks to put a stop to this unlawful and obnoxious practice now been perpetrated by the powerful in the country and ably encouraged by your agency.

In pursuance of that quest, we hereby demand the following:

1. That you immediately withdraw the discharge certificate issued to Mr. Kenny Ogungbe within 7 days of the receipt of this petition on the ground that his purported service is null and void and of no effect, having not served within the age limited for the national youth service.

2. That you de-mobilize Hannatu Musa Musawa immediately and take steps to prosecute her for evading and/or absconding from national service.

3. That you take steps within one month of the receipt of this petition to prosecute Mr. Kenny Ogungbe and Hannatu Musa Musawa at the appropriate court of law for evading the mandatory national youth service. This is to serve as a deterrent to other unpatriotic graduates who may wish to emulate their unpatriotic and unlawful acts.

Please, be informed that should you neglect, refuse and/or fail to meet our demands, that we may be compelled to proceed to Court to seek judicial intervention to address these aberrations and this we shall undertake without further recourse to you.

Please accept our highest regards at all times.

John Aikpokpo-Martins Funmi Adeogun
(Chairman) (Secretary)