The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law has filed a legal petition seeking the court to remove Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, from office. The group claims Musawa breached the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.
In addition to pursuing Musawa’s expulsion, the NBA-SPIDEL has asked the court to order the NYSC to invalidate Musawa and music promoter Kenny Ogungbe’s certifications. The claimants contend that the granting of these certificates violates the terms of NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.
Plaintiffs According to John Aikpokpo-Martins, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, and Funmi Adeogun, Secretary of NBA-SPIDEL, Musawa and Ogungbe were unjustly recruited for the mandated one-year national youth service after reaching the age of 30, which they consider illegal and disloyal.
The lawsuit, marked FCH/ABJ/05/90/2024, lists Musawa, Ogungbe, NYSC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that, according to Sections 2(1), 12(1), and 13(1) of the NYSC Act, the 1st and 2nd defendants are ineligible for employment without possessing and presenting their NYSC certificates. They also demand a declaration that Musawa is not entitled to hold public office after violating the NYSC Act.
This legal action followed prior claims made against Musawa by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria in August 2023, as well as Ogungbe’s social media declaration in October 2023, both of which were connected to their alleged connection with the NYSC.
