Gov Mbah (right) and Edeoga
Court clears NYSC to appear before Enugu election petitions tribunal
Federal High Court, Abuja, Tuesday, set aside application for an interlocutory injunction restraining the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from appearing before the Enugu State Election Petition Tribunal to give evidence over the forged Discharge Certificate of Governor Peter Mbah in the petition filed by Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party (LP).
At the last hearing of the tribunal, the subpoenaed NYSC had failed to show up citing a court order barring it from testifying at the court in defence of its earlier claim that Governor Mbah of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) had forged his Discharge Certificate which he presented before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain clearance to contest the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State.
NYSC had consistently maintained its stand that the embattled governor faked his certificate, and that the Corps did not issue the document paraded by Mbah.
One of the two grounds in the petition filed by the LP challenging the election of Mbah as governor is the presentation of a fake NYSC document by the latter, the other claim being the rigged election results from Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state during the March 18 poll.
Delivering his judgement, Tuesday, in the suit marked No. FHC/ABJ/CS/611/2023, Justice Inyang Ekwo declined the grant Peter Mbah, represented by his counsel, Emeka Ozoani SAN, the requested application for an interlocutory injunction restraining the NYSC from appearing before the Election Petition Trubunal to give evidence with respect to the forged Discharge Certificate No. A808297 presented by the governor to INEC.
In declining the application, Justice Ekwo told Ozoani to forget about the injunction and concentrate on the main suit.
The court adjourned the case to July 11, 2023 to hear the preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit filed by the NYSC.
Meanwhile, the Enugu election petition tribunal resumes hearing on July 7, with NYSC expected to testify.
