The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law has called for the removal of the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, citing an alleged violation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.
The organization has also petitioned the court to compel the NYSC to invalidate the certificates of Musawa and music promoter Kenny Ogungbe, claiming non-compliance with the NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.
In the lawsuit marked FCH/ABJ/05/90/2024, the Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, NBA-SPIDEL, Funmi Adeogun, act as the plaintiffs. The defendants include Musawa, Ogungbe, NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The plaintiffs argue that the mobilization of Musawa and Ogungbe for the mandatory one-year national youth service after surpassing 30 years of age was unlawful and an affront to patriotism. They also claim that the national service and certificates of service issued by the NYSC to Musawa and Ogungbe are null and void.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that, based on Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the NYSC Act, the 1st and 2nd defendants are not entitled to employment without presenting their NYSC certificates. They also seek a declaration that Musawa is not entitled to hold public office after violating NYSC Act provisions.
Truthlive news reports that the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria had accused Musawa in August 2023 of serving as a minister while undertaking the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Similarly, in October 2023, there was a stir on social media when Ogungbe shared a photo of himself in the NYSC uniform, announcing that he had finished NYSC at the age of 53.
Musawa’s unavailability for comment adds to the ongoing situation.