The authenticity of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate has been confirmed by Justice Nyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In a landmark judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Ekwo ruled that the evidence presented clearly showed Governor Mbah completed his NYSC service in 2003, despite being initially mobilized in 2001.

According to Justice Ekwo, Governor Mbah had sought and obtained permission from the NYSC to briefly interrupt his service to attend the Nigerian Law School. After completing law school, he was reinstated into the NYSC in 2003 to finish his service year. The court noted that while Governor Mbah’s service at the law firm of Mr. Udeh during this period was not disputed, the NYSC was rebuked for not charging the governor with forgery if they truly doubted the certificate’s authenticity.

Justice Ekwo condemned the NYSC’s actions as mischievous and in bad faith for denying a certificate they had clearly issued. He awarded a sum of 5 million naira in damages against the Director General of NYSC for misrepresentation of material facts in this case. With this landmark ruling, the Federal High Court has put to rest any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of Governor Mbah’s NYSC certificate once and for all.