The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that it did not issue the discharge certificate presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, during his ministerial screening.
Testifying as the second prosecution witness in the trial brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), NYSC Assistant Director of Certification, Yusuf Abubakar Jumare, highlighted four major discrepancies in the document.
Jumare testified that the disputed certificate, purportedly issued in 1985, carried an “A” prefix—a format the scheme only introduced in 1990. He noted that the document bore a four-digit call-up number instead of the five-digit format used in 1985, recorded 13 months of service instead of 12, and lacked the signature of the sitting Director-General at the time.
Nnaji is facing a six-count charge bordering on corruption, fraud, conferring a corrupt advantage on himself, and submitting false information.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the correspondence between the ICPC and NYSC as exhibits and adjourned the trial until November 30 for the continuation of cross-examination.
