Francis Ugwoke
29 November 2008
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has cleared the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Dr. Herbert Oji, who was accused of forging exemption certificate of the Corps.
Oji's clearance of the allegation brought against him by a relative, Mr Emeka Oji was contained in an affidavit sworn to by a top official of the NYSC, Mr Eniola Ambekemos and lodged before an Enugu High Court.
The organisation said the Certificate of Exemption issued to Oji in 1995, was genuine having originated from the NYSC office as against the allegation that it was forged by the council boss.
In the statement on oath Ambekemo, a Chief Inspector of the NYSC said though the form filled by Oji for Exemption from youth service could not be located, the Certificate of Exemption No. 077483 issued in January 1995 in the name of Oji, Herbert Chikezie A was available in the Corps Headquarters, Abuja.
According to him, "I have searched the records kept in the NYSC Headquarters since inception of the NYSC scheme but cannot lay hands on the form filled by Herbert Oji in 1995 when he documented in NYSC." Sometime in 2006, the then Minister of Federal Capital Territory gave NYSC Headquarters a very short Quit Notice and rushed us out of the former office at Area 3 to the present office at Maitama. In the process of movement, we lost some vital documents.
"The form filled by Herbert Oji must have been lost along with other documents in the process of changing office accommodation. The only document available to us now in respect of Herbert Oji is the Register of Certificates. A certified True Copy of the relevant pages of the Register is attached to this statement as Exhibit 'NYSC A", Eniola told the court.
He added: "The name and number on the Certificate of Exemption tally with the name and number in the Register of Certificates. The said Certificate of Exemption emanated from and was issued by NYSC," he said.
The case against Oji, which came up last week was adjourned to January 28, 2009 for hearing, as a result of the absence of key witnesses.
Oji was taken to Court by his relative, Emeka Oji who contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship primaries last year but lost.
According to the plaintiff, the Council chairman forged the NYSC exemption certificate and also failed to resign his appointment from the Board of National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos before the election in which he emerged winner.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Orthopedic hospital, Igbobi, Lagos State and a retired Director General of NYSC, who were expected to testify before the court did not show up.
Oji, who spoke to newsmen maintained that the allegations leveled against him were all false, and said the affidavit lodged before the court by the NYSC has vindicated him.
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