A Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded 5 million naira in damages against the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for alleging that Enugu state Governor Peter Mbah had a fake discharge certificate.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in the judgment, held that the NYSC and it’s Director-General, were guilty of misrepresentation of material facts.

The judge ruled that the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by Governor Mbah was authentic and validly issued by the NYSC.

Justice Ekwo further held that evidence before the court showed that the governor, though mobilized for service in 2001, completed his service in 2003.

According to the court, Mbah, had sought and received permission from the NYSC to attend the Nigeria Law School, and was reinstated into the NYSC in 2003.

The judge ruled that the NYSC acted in bad faith by denying the certificate of Governor Mbah, adding that the NYSC should have charged him to court if they truly believed he had a fake certificate.