The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law has called on the court to remove the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, from office.
What has she done?
Well, it is increasingly becoming more difficult to find someone in governance that does not have a stain of corruption.
Basically, the NBA request stems from allegations of her violating the National Youth Service Corps Act.
Additionally, the organisation has urged the court to compel the NYSC to invalidate the certificates awarded to Musawa and music promoter Kenny Ogungbe.
The Contradiction
They claimed that issuing these certificates contradicts the provisions outlined in the NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.
The plaintiffs in the suit marked FCH/ABJ/05/90/2024 are John Aikpokpo-Martins, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, and Funmi Adeogun, Secretary of NBA-SPIDEL.
The defendants named in the suit include Hannatu Musawa, Kenny Ogungbe, the NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
They are listed as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
The plaintiffs alleged that the mobilisation of Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year service after surpassing the age of 30 was unlawful, illegal, and contrary to patriotism.
Null And Void
Furthermore, they asserted that Musawa and Ogungbe’s purported national service was null and void.
This includes the certificates of service issued by the NYSC.
Also, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that, “by virtue of the provisions of Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap, N84 LFN 2004, the 1st and 2nd defendants are not entitled to be engaged.
“They cannot be engaged as employees by any employer.
“This includes labour or services (including the Federal Government of Nigeria).
“They cannot be employed without first possessing and presenting their certificates of National Youth Service”.
The Declaration
Also they 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.
“He is also not entitled to hold any public office in Nigeria.
“This is for 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”.
In August 2023, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria accused Musawa of serving as a minister while simultaneously undertaking the one-year mandatory NYSC scheme.
Similarly, in October 2023, there was a social media uproar.
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The uproar came after Ogungbe shared a photo of himself rocking the NYSC uniform.
He announced that he had completed NYSC at the age of 53.
