‘NYSC Certificate Forgery’: Court Grants Atiku Permission to Serve Tinubu Through Substituted Means

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar permission to serve President Bola Tinubu through the All Progressives Congress in a suit challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application on Wednesday after Atiku’s legal team told the court that attempts to personally serve the President had been unsuccessful.

The court consequently allowed substituted service by delivering the documents to the APC, which is the second defendant in the suit.

Justice Ekwo directed the plaintiffs to effect service within seven days and adjourned the matter until September 28 for mention.

The suit was filed by Atiku and the African Democratic Congress to challenge Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 presidential election.

The case includes an allegation concerning Tinubu’s National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to disqualify Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu and the APC have opposed the case and asked the court to dismiss it. Their legal team has denied the allegations, including claims that a forged NYSC discharge certificate or Form CF001 was submitted to INEC.

The President and his party have also argued that the NYSC has not denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu following his participation in the national service programme.

INEC is also challenging the suit through preliminary objections. The electoral commission has raised issues including the alleged statute-bar, lack of locus standi, absence of a reasonable cause of action and alleged abuse of court process.

The commission also questioned whether the plaintiffs complied with Federal High Court pre-election practice directions.

The latest ruling does not determine the substantive issues raised in the suit or decide whether Tinubu is eligible to contest the 2027 election. It only determines how the court processes can be served on him.

With the substituted-service order now granted, the case can proceed to the next stage once the processes have been served as directed.

The September 28 mention is expected to provide an opportunity for the court to address procedural developments and consider the parties’ positions as the case continues.