Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has said her resignation from the Muhammadu Buhari administration was the result of actions by what she described as “powerful enemies” within government who exploited the NYSC certificate controversy to force her out of office.
Adeosun made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television, excerpts of which were aired on Thursday, January 1, ahead of the full episode of Inside Sources scheduled for broadcast on Friday, January 2.
In 2018, Adeosun stepped down amid allegations that she submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as part of her credentials. Reflecting on the episode, she said those who opposed her within the administration seized the allegations as an opportunity to remove her.
“I’m not in doubt that I had powerful enemies who saw an opportunity and said, ‘Let’s get rid of her,’” Adeosun said. She explained that before resigning, she met with then-President Buhari to brief him on the situation and inform him of her decision to seek legal redress to clear her name.
“No one resigned in finance, but I did. On the day I resigned, I went to see the President and told him, ‘Mr President, I need to step aside, but I will go to court to clear my name,’” she stated.
According to Adeosun, Buhari supported her decision, emphasising the importance of protecting one’s reputation. She recalled him saying that a person’s name is an inheritance for future generations and should not be damaged for the sake of remaining in office.
She added that it would have been inappropriate to remain in government while taking legal action against it. “I sued the Federal Government. You cannot be suing the government and still be part of it. You have to step aside. I believe that was the right thing to do,” she said.
In July 2021, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Adeosun could not be sanctioned or penalised over the NYSC matter, holding that she was not legally required to present an NYSC certificate to hold public office. However, the court did not rule on the allegation of forgery.
0 Comments