NYSC disowns certificate linked to ex-Minister Nnaji, identifies four defects

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has disowned the discharge certificate that a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, allegedly presented to the National Assembly during his screening.

An NYSC official, Yusuf Abubakar Jumare (an Assistant Director in the Department of Certification), told a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday that the organization did not issue the certificate.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting Nnaji on a six-count charge.

He is accused, among others, of engaging in corruption, fraud, conferring corrupt advantage upon himself, and giving false information by allegedly making and presenting a false certificate of national service and a university degree certificate.

Led in evidence by Jimoh Abdulmumini (SAN), Jumare (who testified as the second prosecution witness (PW2) said his department investigated the case following a request from the ICPC.

He identified four features which he said showed that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC.  The first was the certificate number, purportedly issued in 1985, carrying the prefix “A”, which the NYSC did not begin using until 1990.

The second, the witness said, was the call-up number on the certificate, with four digits (0137), whereas the call-up numbers in 1985 had five digits.

The witness said the third was the certificate, which indicates a service period of 13 months instead of 12 calendar months.

According to him, the fourth was that the certificate was not signed by the Director-General of the NYSC, who served at the time.

The prosecution also tendered copies of correspondence between the ICPC and the NYSC on the alleged fake certificate. They were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits. 

The defence team, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said it would reserve its objection on the admissibility or otherwise of the documents.

Abdulmumini said he just took over the case and undertook to make the documents available to the defence following a complaint that the defence team was not served.

When Bode Olanikpekun (SAN) cross-examined him, Jumare maintained that the NYSC did not issue the certificate.

The witness described his department as the custodian of all NYSC certificates, adding that certificates were issued to corps members only on completion of their service year as proof of that completion.

He said call-up letters are sent by the NYSC to universities, where graduates collect them.

Jumare also said only universities forwarded the names of graduates to the NYSC for mobilisation.

The witness admitted that he did not check whether or not the NYSC ever issued a certificate to the defendant.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned till November 30 for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW2.