A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today has cleared the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery, which resulted in her resignation in 2018.
This is according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, seen by naijabusiness.com.ng
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his ruling on the originating summon with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/303/21 brought by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on her behalf, held that the NYSC certificate based on the constitution is not a mandatory requirement for holding a political office in the country.
Apart from the aforementioned point, the Judge further held that Adeosun was not even qualified to have participated in the scheme, due to the fact that as at when she graduated (aged 22 years), she was then a British Citizen. Upon her formal return and a switch in allegiance to Nigeria, she became ineligible to present herself for the NYSC Service, having exceeded the mandatory age of 30 years.
In his exact words, the Judge said: ‘’ A declaration that the plaintiff, being a United Kingdom citizen as at 1989 when she graduated from the University of East London, London, United Kingdom at the age of 22 years, was ineligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corpse scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N8, LFN, 2004.”
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The Judge further added that:”Based on this, I am of the view that denying the plaintiff of the relieves sought is not going to be doing justice to the matter.
Additionally, Justice Taiwo noted that the AGF, in his counter affidavit, did not challenge the avirement of the plaintiff, wherein the defendant stated that the Federal Government did not withdraw the ministerial appointment of the plaintiff or ask her to resign, but that Adeosun resigned on her on accord.
Naijabusiness.com.ng understands that while Adeosun was the plaintiff in the suit, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) was the sole defendant.
