Minister Hannatu Musawa defends NYSC certificate controversy, claims Innocence

October 07, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has again addressed the controversy surrounding her National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) certificate, stating she did nothing wrong.

Musawa’s comments came during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The NYSC scandal first surfaced when Musawa failed to provide evidence of participating in the mandatory service during her Senate screening in 2023. President Bola Tinubu had nominated her for the position, sparking outrage and legal challenges from some Nigerians who deemed her appointment without completing the service an aberration.

A court case was filed against Musawa, but it was dismissed in April 2024 due to the plaintiffs lacking locus standi (legal right) to institute the suit, as ruled by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Musawa maintains her innocence, emphasizing that her presence in office indicates she hasn’t done anything wrong. “I didn’t break the law,” she said, adding that she’ll reveal her account of events at an unspecified time.

When pressed for clarification, Musawa declined, stating she owes Nigerians her commitment to delivering results, not explanations on the matter.

She said, “I don’t know what you have heard. There have been so many different accounts of that particular situation. The fact that I am sitting here means that I didn’t do anything wrong. But I have not come out to set the record straight as to what happened. The social media has just run rife with different accounts.

“The matter had been adjudicated and one day, I will come out with my account. I have probably done more NYSC than you (presenter). I have done at least two NYSCs in my life.”

“I think what I owe Nigerians is to say that I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t break the law. The NYSC I did and finished. That is the much I can tell you. Everything I did was by the law.

“That was why I also said that one day I would come out with my account of what happened to set the record straight. As of now, I think it is important for me to focus on giving Nigerians the deliverables,” she said.