Unic Press UK: Kemi Adeosun, who hitherto was the Nigerian Finance Minister, has resigned as a minister. She is no longer a cabinet member under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a letter to President Buhari, dated Friday, the 14 September 2018, Adeosun made a reference to the scathing allegations that she had forged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate, blaming “trusted associates”. She said:
“I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.
“On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.“
President Buhari has accepted Adeosun resignation, naming the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning as overseer of the Finance Ministry until a further directive.
The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) September 14, 2018
It was in July 2018 that a popular online news medium in Nigeria published an exclusive report, alleging that Kemi Adeosun did not go through the mandatory one-year National Youth Service scheme expected of any Nigerian who graduated from a higher institution before the age of 30. The news medium added that Adeosun forged an exemption certificate of the NYSC; which she has been using as part of the requirements to secure juicy political appointments.
