Powerful enemies saw NYSC certificate saga as opportunity to force me out of office - Kemi Adeosun

Kemi Adeosun, the former minister of finance, has attributedher resignation from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari tothe handiwork of “powerful enemies”.Adeosun spoke during an interview on Channels Television,which will be aired on Friday. An excerpt of the interview — Inside Sources —was aired on Thursday as part of a news bulletin. In 2018, Adeosun tendered her resignation as financeminister following allegations that she tendered a forged National YouthService Corps (NYSC) certificate as part of her credentials. Speaking during the interview, the former finance ministersaid “powerful enemies” in the Buhari-led administration saw the NYSCcertificate controversy as an “opportunity to get rid of her”. Adeosun said before her resignation, she approached Buharito inform him about the development and her decision to initiate legalproceedings against the federal government. She said she cannot continue working in the cabinet andstill initiate legal proceedings against the federal government. “I’m not confused about the fact that I had powerful enemieswho I believed saw an opportunity. Let’s get rid of her,” Adeosun said. “No one resigned in finance, but I did. Why did I resign? Theday I resigned, I went to go and see the president. I said, ‘Mr President, Ineed to go, but I will go to court to clear my name.' “He said, ‘I absolutely support you. Because these names areleased for our children and grandchildren, right? They are going to inheritthem’. “And then you destroy your name because you want to stay asminister. For what? “I sued the federal government. You can’t be suing thegovernment and staying in the government. You can’t. You have to go. I think itis the right thing to do.” In July 2021, a federal high court in Abuja granted adeclaration that Adeosun cannot be subjected to any penalty or forfeiture inrelation to her occupation due to the NYSC certificate. Taiwo Taiwo, a judge, had ruled that Adeosun had noobligation to produce her NYSC certificate to hold a public office in Nigeria. The court, however, was silent on the alleged forgedcertificate.

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