Nigeria’s former minister Kemi Adeosun Wednesday said the judgment by an Abuja court that she did not need to have a National Youth Service Corps before she could serve as a minister was a vindication of her position.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said Adeosun did not need to have a first degree or any other certificate before she could be appointed as a minister in the country.
Adeosun served as Nigeria’s minister for finance between November 2015 and September 2018.
She resigned after she was accused of forging her NYSC exemption certificate.
“The ruling vindicates me after a very traumatic spell,” Adeosun said in a statement posted to her Facebook page.
“It is, however, not only a personal victory; it’s also a victory for many Nigerians in the Diaspora under similar conditions who are desirous to serve their country.”
Kemi Adeosun, a former investment banker and accountant, served as finance commissioner in the southwestern state of Ogun before being named in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in 2015.
In Nigeria, it is mandatory for university graduates and holders of Higher National Diploma who are not older than 30 years to undergo mandatory national youth service.
The British-Nigerian studied and lived largely in the United Kingdom. She did not return to Nigeria until she was 34 and did not serve the mandatory one year as a youth corps.
“I wish to add in light of the court’s ruling, I will at the appropriate time and without hesitation, take all further steps necessary within the law to protect my reputation,” she said.
Below is the full text of her statement;
My lawyers have informed me of the judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the case of Folakemi Adeosun v The Attorney General of the Federation (FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021) in which the court, presided over by Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruled that the constitution does not require me to present my first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a Minister.
More importantly, he also ruled that I was not eligible to perform NYSC by virtue of the constitution. This is the position I have always maintained and am happy for this official clarification.
The ruling vindicates me after a very traumatic spell. It is, however, not only a personal victory; it’s also a victory for many Nigerians in the Diaspora under similar conditions who are desirous to serve their country.
I wish to thank God, my family, friends, my counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and numerous well-wishers for their love, care and concern throughout this difficult period, which has lasted 3 whole years.
I wish to add in light of the court’s ruling, I will at the appropriate time and without hesitation, take all further steps necessary within the law to protect my reputation.I thank you all
Kemi Adeosun