A nongovernmental organizations, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has on Monday, in Abuja lamented over the increasing rate of certificates forgery by public office holders in Nigeria.
The group spokesperson and National Treasurer, Halima Ibrahim, stated that the country has in the last six months, witnessed two festering cases which are yet to be resolved.
Ibrahim stressed that it is time for the judiciary to awake and protect the National Youth Service Corps scheme from the rabid onslaught of powerful forces.
She said “We are here in fulfilment of a core patriotic duty to defend our Public institutions, particularly the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) against the increasing assault by the ruling political elite in Nigeria to undermine the independence and sanctity of public institutions to satisfy their primitive and unpatriotic desires.
She noted that there is an emerging dangerous trend that needs to be nipped in the bud before it destroys the NYSC as a public institution of repute. “This trend has to do with the increasing cases of certificate forgery by some politicians and ruling elites in Nigeria.
“We are concerned and dismayed that some public office holders in the country who occupy offices of public trust are involved in forgery of public documents including educational results and the NYSC discharge certificate. More worrisome is the fact that some of these individuals who are quite powerful are challenging anyone including the courts who dare to question their nefarious actions.
” If the judiciary on whose doorsteps the matter lies, fails to deliver substantial justice in this case and allows Mr Peter Mbah to walk away a free man without convincing proof of how he obtained his NYSC certificate, this would signpost the death of that beautiful scheme called the National Youth Service Corps.
“We call on Nigerians to remain vigilant and alert, and appeal to the judiciary as the last wall of hope and defender of our laws to rise to the occasion at this time to save Nigeria and, in particular, protect the NYSC from desperate politicians.
(SUN).
