The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law has taken legal action, urging the court to dismiss the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, from office. The organization alleges that Musawa violated the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.

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In addition to seeking Musawa’s removal, the NBA-SPIDEL has requested the court to compel the NYSC to invalidate the certificates of Musawa and music promoter Kenny Ogungbe. The plaintiffs argue that the issuance of these certificates contradicts the provisions of the NYSC Act Cap N84.LFN 2024.

Plaintiffs John Aikpokpo-Martins, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, and Funmi Adeogun, Secretary of NBA-SPIDEL, claim that Musawa and Ogungbe were unlawfully mobilized for the mandatory one-year national youth service after surpassing the age of 30, deeming it illegal and unpatriotic.

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 follows previous accusations against Musawa by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria in August 2023 and Ogungbe’s social media announcement in October 2023, both related to their purported involvement with the NYSC.