Mbah Vs NYSC: Court Dismisses Labour Party Candidate, Edeoga’s Application

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out an application by the candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State in the March 18 governorship election, Hon Chijioke Edeoga, seeking to be joined in the lawsuit instituted by Governor Peter Mbah against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for alleged misrepresentation of facts on his discharge certificate.

The court dismissed the application for the joinder after it was withdrawn by the applicant.

It warned against false reportage of the court’s proceedings in the N20 billion lawsuit between the governor and the NYSC.

During the proceedings, before parties began to move pending motions, Justice Ekwo interjected and warned against false reportage.

He said, “In this court, I operate an open-door policy. I have instructed my registrars to make available to the media whatever document they need. I have always said that all that I want is accurate reportage of proceedings before this court.

“It is only in this country that some persons who called themselves journalists will report falsehood and get away with it. I am not even saying you should be objective but report the facts the way they are, that’s why the registrars have been working with the media to ensure court proceedings are not misrepresented.”

He warned about the consequences of misrepresentation of court proceedings.

During the proceedings, counsel to NYSC, Aminu Sadauki, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection and the court asked, if he filed it alongside substantive matter, to which he responded in the negative.

The counsel to Governor Mbah, Mr Emeka Ozoani (SAN) conceded to more time to allow Sadauki regularise his papers.

The court, therefore, adjourned to July 11, 2023 for definite hearing of the substantive matter

Shortly after the case was held, a section of online media, which did not cover proceedings reported that Justice Ekwo refused to grant an order of interlocutory injunction sought by Mbah to restrain the NYSC from appearing before the Election Petitions Tribunal to give evidence with respect to the alleged forged NYSC certificate he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the application being referred to was never moved before the court set the matter down for definite hearing for July 11.

As the federal government plans to grant leverage to states to generate and distribute electricity, Akwa Ibom State government has ordered effective auditing and overhaul of the state-owned Independent Power Plant (IPP).