JUST IN: Court clears ex-Finance Minister, Adeosun, over NYSC certificate saga

By Biola Adebayo On Jul 7, 2021

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, cleared the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate controversy, which resulted in her resignation in 2018.

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.

Delivering judgment on the matter, the court declared

“That the plaintiff is under no constitutional disability, disadvantage, prohibition, inhibition or disqualification to hold any of the following offices established by the Constitution, to wit: offices of member of the House of Assembly of a State, a Commissioner in the State Executive Council; Governor of a State; member of the National Assembly; Minister in the Federal Executive Council or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the ground that she did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N84, LFN 2004

Among other reliefs sought by Adeosun, which the court granted were: “A declaration that the plaintiff is not under any constitutional disability, disadvantage, prohibition, inhibition or disqualification to hold any office as member or Chairman of any of the State Executive or Federal Executive bodies established by the Constitution or otherwise, on the ground that she did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N84, LFN 2004.

“A declaration that the plaintiff cannot be subjected to any penalty, forfeiture or put under any encumbrance in relation to her occupation or assumption of any of the following public offices, created by the Constitution, to wit: membership of the House of Assembly of a State, a Commissioner in the State Executive Council; Governor of a State, member of the National Assembly; Minister in the Federal Executive Council, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, membership of any of the States or Federal Executive bodies, established by the Constitution or otherwise, on the ground that she did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N84, LFN 2004.

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 Corps Scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N84, LFN 2004.

The Former Finance Minister’s resignation was accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.

Recalls that n July 2018, it was discovered that Mrs Adeosun did not participate in the mandatory one-year national youth service scheme but instead forged an exemption certificate many years after graduation.

This action breached the National Youth Service Corps law which provides a jailable punishment.

Following sustained pressure from several quarters, Mrs Adeosun tendered her resignation letter to Mr Buhari on September 14, 2018, which was accepted by the President.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Adeosun was the plaintiff in the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was the sole defendant. (NAN)