EXCLUSIVE: Alex Otti’s NYSC Certificate Is With Us, But Gov. Mbah Absconded Service  –  NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed having the possession of the certificate of Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, The MeridianSpy reports.

An inside source in the NYSC headquarters confirmed this to The MeridianSpy, on Tuesday.

The MeridianSpy had reported that opposition in the state is challenging Otti’s victory in the March 2023 governorship polls over failure to present NYSC discharge certifi­cate in line with the requirements of the scheme.

The source noted that it took the body less than 30 minutes to run checks and provided the original certificate of Mr. Otti which was with them.

“We didn’t give the opposition team a copy of the certificate. They were given a nod that Mr. Otti completed his youth service and that his original certificate is with us after our records check “, the source said.

Recall that Mr. Otti had used a clearance letter from the NYSC showing that he actually served during his re-election documentation process.

The Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] had approached the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to disqualify Mr. Otti.

The petitioner prayed on the allegation that Mr. Otti didn’t complete his youth service, and thus, failed to present his certificate during re-election documentation phase with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the case of Peter Mbah, Enugu State governor, the source stated unequivocally that the NYSC certificate in Mr. Mbah’s possession was not issued by the body.

The source narrated that although Mr. Mbah was mobilised and sworn in to serve he absconded from service halfway and that the scheme didn’t issue a certificate to him given his non-completion of service.

He bemoaned the Department State Security Service (DSS) for countering NYSC’s position on Mbah’s case.

Recall that the DSS had released a statement last week stating that the Enugu state governor actually served his country and that the certificate in his possession was issued to him by the NYSC.

While responding, our source said, “The position of the DSS is clearly contrary to NYSC’s testimony against Mbah. Mr. Mbah didn’t complete his youth service, and that the certificate in his possession was not issued by the NYSC.”