Senator Oduah threatens legal action against NYSC
Senator representing the Anambra North district, Stella Oduah, has expressed anger over allegations by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that she did not conclude her national youth service.
The Senator who has represented her constituency from both the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) has demanded the NYSC to apologize for misleading Nigerians on her service records or face legal action.
She gave the NYSC 48 hours to withdrew its statement which claimed that the senator had absconded during her youth service.
Her spokesman, Ezennia Nonso Chukwudebe, had earlier dismissed the allegations against the senator as a morbid joke, saying that allegation had earlier been sufficiently determined to be false at the court.
In a letter to the NYSC, Senator Oduah described the allegation by the NYSC as reckless and grossly irresponsible, alleging that the letter by the NYSC was procured from the establishment for political reasons.
“We are shocked that you condescended so low to make such false and unverified conclusions which is damaging to her character and image. For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Oduah’s NYSC place of primary assignment was the popular Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
“When a similar allegation was made by her political contenders in 2017, NECA issued a letter dated 11th January 2017 Ref No: NECA/SELA/H4 confirming that she carried out her NYSC primary assignment with them. Find attached a copy of that letter for reference as well as a photograph of our client as a youth corper.
“That issue also attended litigation and she has a court judgment in her favour in the case of Chinedu Emmanuel Emeka v. Princess Stella Oduah , EPT/AWK/SEN/13/2019,” Oduah’s letter to NYSC read in part.
The senator accused the NYSC of either ignoring the record or failing to keep proper records.
Senator Oduah had earlier denied reports that she absconded from her National Youths Service Corps programme, saying the that they were designed to damage her reputation.
Mr Chukwudebe stated that same allegation had featured in the past, noting that it has now become cyclical for the senator’s political opponents play up the same allegation during campaign periods.
”The Distinguished Senator indeed served meritoriously at NECA in 1982 as can be confirmed from this 11th January, 2017 clarification from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association personally signed by the Director General, O.A Oshinowo.
“Nigerians need to understand that the people behind the fake letter currently doing the rounds are desperate, despondent and out of their wits end for they instinctively appreciate the fact that the Distinguished Senator is one leader that continues to be appreciated and loved for her many people oriented programs and no amount of sponsored media mudslinging can obliterate this fact.
“This is election season and it is expected to see such antics by weak traducers whose understanding of politicking is engaging in mindless subterfuge against aspirants perceived as strong.
Senator Stella Oduah remains strong, in very high spirits and looking forward to the election proper,” the statement reads in part.
