TheNewsGuru

Tag: adeosun

  • Certificate forgery: Davido throws jab at Adeosun, shares pictures of himself in NYSC camp

    Nigerian pop star, Davido may have thrown a jab at the minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun when he recently took to his Instagram page sharing a picture of himself clad in the NYSC uniform with the caption “Tying every loose end”.

    Recall that there was public outrage over reports by an online news portal, Premium Times, detailing how Adeosun allegedly skipped the mandatory national service and used a forged certificate to cover for it.

    The scheme, however, promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the certificate to Adeosun.

    She is also yet to officially respond to the allegation since it was published over 50 days ago.

    Davido’s terse statement may be a subtle jab at the embattled minister, as he doesn’t want to be involved in such a mess should he decide to join to politics later in life.

    Recall that Davido’s uncle, Isiaka Adeleke was the first civilian governor of Osun State. He later joined the senate in 2011 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sought reelection in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but died in office in April 2017. His younger brother, Ademola has since taken over as the seat though under the platform of the PDP.

    Ademola has also declared his interest to run for the governorship election in Osun State. The election is scheduled to hold on September 22.

    This may be Davido’s reason for heeding to the clarion call by going for the compulsory NYSC exercise.

    Earlier today, the singer shared pictures of himself in the NYSC camp purported to be in Ipaja, Lagos.

    The graduate of Babcock University posted pictures of himself before he headed to the camp.

    Davido in new baby mama romance

     

     

  • Is Kemi Adeosun a corruption that is fighting back? – Godwin Etakibuebu

    Is Kemi Adeosun a corruption that is fighting back? – Godwin Etakibuebu

    Godwin Etakibuebu

    We ran the first part one of this article last week with a promise of concluding the topic today. It means that what you are now reading is fulfillment of promise made. Like as l said last week in the opening paragraph of the discussion, the topic is properly and adequately captured for purposes of transparency.

    The question if Kemi Adeosun is a corruption that is fighting back is deliberately picked because it represents the totality of this Buhari’s administration whenever it [the government] is confronted with a challenge of moral crises.

    Once there is any attempt in alleging anything against this government’s action or its officials, no matter how legally justifiable the allegation may be, the first line of defense by Buhari’s presidency is to fire back, saying “this is corruption fighting back”. Sometimes, when the government fails to mention corruption as fighting back the next line of defense has always remained “the mess created by Goodluck Jonathan and his People Democratic Party is what we are still battling.”

    By the way, for those who may not know, Mrs Kemi Adeosun is Buhari’s Minister of Finance. She is from Ogun State in South/West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. She was born and brought up in the United Kingdom, had all her education there and reputed to be very brilliant with excellent results. She came back to Nigeria at the age of 22 years, expectedly to serve her fatherland under the constitutionally requirement as demanded by the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.

    The law establishing the scheme stipulated two things for all Nigerian graduates; either at home or from abroad, namely: [1] to serve and obtain a “Certificate of Service” or [2] exempted from service and receives a “Certificate of Exemption”. There are severe punishments stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution against any infraction of the NYSC scheme. Kemi Adeosun, as revealed by the Premium News; an online Media giant, did not serve despite the fact that she was just 22 years old when she returned to Nigeria.

    Yet, she has been gainfully employed by the Federal Government and maybe the Ogun State Government where she was a Commissioner before becoming a federal minister, with a forged certificate of exemption, according to the authoritative report of the Premium News. The federal government decided to remain totally in comatose and conspiratorially silent over this major corruptive allegation against one of its forefront operators until Itse Sagay; Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption [PACAC], a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made it clear on behalf of the Federal Government that nobody can touch the madam because of this forgery case hanging on her like the sword of Damocles. Listen to what he said.

    “The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she (Adeosun) is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman” because a lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her (Adeosun’s) expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice“, he said before delivering the killer punch; “who cares about youth service? I don’t bloody care whether she did youth service or not. It’s irrelevant as far as I am concerned.”

    As far as this once-most-respected lawyer is concerned this grievous proven allegation of corruption against the woman “is another corruption fighting back” or succinctly put; “it is President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP that corrupted the woman-saint”.

    This is the only government in world history that “does everything perfectly right” because of the erroneous assumption that “Muhammadu Buhari’s incorruptibility and being a saint, represents God’s image on earth, even in Nigeria”. What a great fallacy? There is a river of corruption that flows across the country with its source from the Aso Villa in Abuja. Let me give a few examples before coming back to conclude on the Kemi Adeosun’ dilemma.

    Let us start by accepting that nepotism is nothing but corruption. If there is any one president in Nigeria’s history that is guilty of nepotism most, that President is Muhammadu Buhari. Two of his ministers are his nephews [not counting those that are his first or second cousins]. For example, the minister of Aviation and Federal Capital Territory are point in reference.

    When the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Lawal Babachir, was indicted for corruptly enriching himself by stealing from funds set aside for helping the Internally Displaced People [IDP] from the North East by the Senate, President Buhari defended the man to the high heavens until Investigative Committee under the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo [with Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and then Director General of the DSS as members] nailed Babachir. And when he was to be relieved of his office, the same grass-cutting thief brought in his own first cousin, Boss Mustapha, as his replacement. Babachir was never charged to court for corruption, stealing or any offence but instead he remains a regular caller in the Villa till date. In fact, he was a prominent member of President Buhari’s entourage during the last Lagos official visit of the latter. Much for war against corruption!

    Allegation of palm-greasing of about Five Hundred Million Naira [from MTN] was made against the Chief of Staff to the President at a time in the early days of this government but not much as a finger was raised to investigate it by the Presidency. The matter was allowed “to sleep off because it was probably corruption fighting back.”

    The Chairman, Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Property and Prosecution, Mr Okoi Obono-Obia, was accused of forging his West African Examination Council Certificate. A letter signed by WAEC senior official attested to this even as the Deputy Registrar of the Body [WAEC], Mr Femi Ola, pronounced while testifying before the Nigerian House of Representative that Oblo Certificate was “fake and not genuine”. Have we heard anything from the Buhari’s government about this case that concerned a man that is supposed to be prosecuting corrupt people for the government?

    It is reality of all these corruptive happenings under a government that carries a toga of fighting corruption that Itse Sagay’s conclusion about Kemi Adeosun should be overlooked, at least for now. Come to think of it anyway, the learned Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria did not forge any of his certificates, he is genuinely qualified in his profession but like the salt that has lost its taste, where is that salt qualified to be but in the dustbin.

    With these avalanches of tragedy of proven corruptive cases against front-runners of this government of change [mentioned cases are just a tip of the iceberg because we can go on and on counting], Sagay could have only concluded the way he has done, to wit: “who cares about youth service? I don’t bloody care whether she did youth service or not. It’s irrelevant as far as I am concerned.”

    But one final word before drawing the curtain on today’s exercise. Late in the year 2014 while the contest for the race of who rules Nigeria was at its top gear, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress then [who eventually won the 2015 general election and subsequently sworn-in as the President on May 29, 2015] had doubt of cloud hanging over the genuineness of his school certificate. Baba claimed that the original of his certificate was with the Army Headquarters, a claim the Nigerian Military High Command promptly denied and the denial was then signed by the Military Secretary [Army].

    At the end of the day a photocopy of one certificate from one school in Katsina was posted on the pages of many newspapers. Until the election took place and the winner sworn-in as President, the issue of forgery or otherwise of that certificate remained a litigation matter. Maybe, the matter adjourned sine die. A government of what, by what and for what, should we call this administration, ipso facto?

    Judgment: There are more serious cases than that of Mrs Kemi Adeosun that are still pending in the peoples’ court of justice.

    This court shall arise.

    C-O-U-R-T!

     

    Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.

    godwin@thenewsguru.ng

     

  • Eid el-Kabir: Buhari addresses NYSC members, skips Adeosun’s certificate forgery scandal

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday addressed serving corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in his country home in Daura, Katsina State as part of activities marking the 2018 Eid el-Kabir celebrations.

    The president spoke on the need for Nigerians to take part in the scheme as it helps bonds the Nigerian spirit better.

    However, the president was silent on the controversy surrounding the authenticity of his Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun who skipped the one year compulsory scheme but parades a fake exemption certificate.

    Recall that an online news portal, Premium Times had over a month conducted and published an investigation that showed that Adeosun, failed to serve the nation despite graduating before the age of 30. The minister obtained a forged discharge certificate afterwards, when she was apparently not entitled to one.

    Over 44 days after the publication, the Minister has refused to react to the scandal. The federal government has also failed to address the matter.

    On Tuesday however, while celebrating Sallah in Daura, his hometown, Buhari said his support for the scheme remains unchanged.

    The president, after prayers, received members of the NYSC serving in Daura community- an audience that has become part of his schedule during the Sallah celebrations in the past years.

    While reaffirming his support for the scheme established in 1973, Buhari told the corps members that: ‘‘It is better to know all about the country than for people to be state-inclined.

    ‘‘I always look forward to meeting the NYSC team because I served mostly in the south when I was in the military.”

    He said that during his military career that many people did not know much outside their immediate environment.

    ‘‘For them (NYSC members) to be brought to the desert or near the Sahel region is a very difficult thing but it will make an impact on Nigeria.

    ‘‘I have personally spoken to Gen. Gowon to thank him for having the initiative to start the NYSC programme. It is very good for Nigeria.’

    The president also welcomed the corps members to the ancient town of Daura and asked them to enjoy their service year.

    In his remarks, the Corps Liaison Officer, Jibrin Ishak, thanked the president for prioritising the welfare of the youth to secure their future through his style of leadership and developmental initiatives.

    ‘‘The voice of the people is the voice of God and by the grace of God, we pray that in 2019 you will continue to be president of Nigeria to do more for us,’’ Mr Ishak said.

    Buhari also expressed delight over Nigeria’s steady progress toward food sufficiency.

    The president made his feelings known when he fielded questions from reporters at his private residence in Daura.

    He thanked Almighty God for a bumper harvest being recorded across the country.

    “I hope the rainy season will be as good as the previous ones so that there would be plenty of food so that we may even completely stop importation of food items,’’ he added.

    The president wished all Nigerians a happy and successful celebration and expressed delight that the country was spending less on food importation.

    According to him, the development is a major boost to the agricultural policies of his administration.

    On the mammoth crowd chanting `Sai Baba’ on his way back home after performing the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Daura Eid ground, the president said he did not expect anything less from his ‘immediate constituency’.

    ‘‘I am very happy about it (the warm reception) and I do not expect anything less from my immediate base,’’ he said.

  • Is Kemi Adeosun a corruption that is fighting back – Etakibuebu

    Is Kemi Adeosun a corruption that is fighting back – Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    The issue for today’s discussion has been adequately captured above. It is all about Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Nigeria’s brilliant and beautiful Minister of Finance who hailed from Ogun State in the South/West geopolitical zone of the country and her alleged scandal of the National Youth Service Corps “Certificate of Discharge” forgery. But before doing justice to this complicated matter; given the caliber of person involved, let us take a memory journey down history for evaluation of similar scenario in the immediate past. We shall thereafter come back to the federal finance minister.

    Ibrahim Salisu Buhari; handsome, presentable, lively and somehow hilarious, from Kano State was elected first Speaker of the House of Representative of this Republic as the National Assembly was inaugurated on June 3, 1999. The young man who hailed from the Nasarawa Federal Constituency of Kano State, under the People Democratic Party, clinched the coveted seat by defeating a main challenger in the person of Honourable Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua from Katsina State.

    He however spent only 49 days as a member of the House of Representative and the Right Honourable Speaker of that Green Chamber before resigning from both offices on July 22, 1999, when he was caught in the web of age falsification and certificate forgery. One of the documents he was alleged to have forged was that of the National Youth Service Corps discharged Certificate.

    The News Magazine did a thorough investigation and revealed that the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Toronto in Canada, certificate obtained in 1990, and presented by the Speaker for his election was actually a forgery. He was also caught as not serving in the National Youth Service Corps [NYSC] in 1991 but paraded a falsified certificate of Service. There were other falsified documents concerning him that the Magazine revealed but let us come to the age falsification.

    He said he was born on January 3, 1963, which constitutionally qualified him to be elected into the House of Representative by 1999 but it was discovered that he was actually born on January 1970, making him 29 years at the time he contested and won election to the House, whereas the allowed age limit for a member of the House was 30.

    Immediately these facts were made known, the Presidency [the Executive arm of government] instituted investigation into the allegations under the office of then National Security Adviser [NSA], General Aliyu Muhammad Gusau and the Presidency, having confirmed all the allegations, was at the verge of prosecuting the young man before he quickly threw in the towel. Below is the speech he read to his 259 colleagues on that august day he resigned:

    “Since the hand-over of the military and the subsequent inauguration of the House of Representatives, the House has focused on meeting the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian people. I must thank you for the great honour you conferred upon me when you elected me Speaker of this august Assembly. Since electing me, you have been virtually unanimous in your support for me. Consider therefore how sad and distressed I was, when this House and the nation was scandalized when questions were raised relating to my qualification to be a member of this House.

    “The controversy generated by that issue, has greatly undermined my authority and prestige, making it difficult for me to continue in office as Speaker and member of this Honourable House. I therefore have no alternative but to resign my membership of the House which, I hereby do. I am bound, under all circumstances, to live above suspicion. It was wrong therefore for my conduct to be open to justifiable suspicion as it has been. I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation, I apologise to my family, and friends for all the distress I have caused them.

    “I was led to error by the zeal to serve the nation. I trust therefore, that the nation will forgive me and give me another opportunity to serve. I still have faith in the nation and my commitment to her is greater now, seeing that I have wronged it. I have consequently advised my lawyer Chief Rotimi Williams SAN, CFR to withdraw my libel action against ‘The News’ magazine.

    “Everything in life is for a purpose and my prayer is that my humiliation will illustrate that in our new democracy, no body, no matter how highly placed, will be above the law. As I look up from the ground following my fall from grace, I solemnly ask you for your forgiveness for as they say ‘The human soul is strongest when it forgoes revenge and forgives injury.’ I hope that in your own time, you will be able to offer me a helping hand.

    “Permit me to seize this opportunity to express my regrets and offer my unreserved apologies to all Nigerians at home and abroad for the embarrassment this controversy has generated.

    “As I leave you today, I urge you all to remember that this House has always been known for order and for positive change. It is true that we must progress from hence, but it must not be a chaotic progress, for the art of progress is to preserve order amidst change. I have no doubt therefore, that you, my brothers and sisters are equal to the task ahead.

    “Finally, I wish to emphasize that the sweet memory of our short but useful time together will forever be cherished in my heart. For now, I bid you farewell and divine guidance for the rest of your tenure. I also wish you success as you labour in the cause of our country and nation building. I shall never forget your kindness to me. Please remember me in your prayers.”

    The narrative above happened just 19 years ago and we have seen steps taken by all; both with the personae dramatis at the Legislature in total remorse and being apologetic even in taking the most honourable way out, and at the Executive arm of government with its genuine efforts in bringing credibility to governance was actually displayed. Nineteen years after, the same democratic government under another retired military General [Muhammadu Buhari], similar to what we had under General Olusegun Obasanjo, the modus operandi of prosecuting the same incident has changed. Let us look at what is happening first before moving into decoding the intricacy of how “corruption [which herein includes the finance minister] is fighting back” at the “APC’s holy government of Buhari”.

    The Premium Times, one of the most reliable sources of information in the Nigerian Media market place today, published a well-investigated report, a few weeks ago, that the Finance Minister; Mrs Kemi Adeosun, not only failed to undertake the NYSC upon return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom (where she was born and graduated at age 22), she used a forged certificate of exemption to secure her ministerial appointment.

    “This is a serious allegation that borders on criminality on two fronts: dodging service which is a constitutional infraction and forgery”, as Segun Adeniyi, the Chairman of Thisday Editorial Board put it in his column last week, before tackling the third component of the criminality, which of course is the Nigerian’s Senate angle of conspiracy of silence when the woman presented her forged paper for scrutiny at the Senate before she was confirmed. It has been alleged that the Senate knew about the problem before her confirmation hearing but left it as a weapon of blackmail for another day. Though this allegation is yet to be refuted by the Red Chamber, l am not really interested in dealing with it because there are many other things for consideration if we must catch this government at its best game of hypocrisy.

    Adeosun refused to talk. The Nigeria Police Force, under an Inspector General Nigerians are not too sure either himself is a forgery or not; considering that the IGP “transmission” all his letters in a calabash of error, is keeping sealed lips by claiming that “a formal complaint has not been laid before it”. The presidency of course will not talk unless to say that “corruption is fighting back” because that is the only “gospel truth” of this derailed presidency these days.

    However, as the devil would have it, a very top ranking officer of this government has come to the rescue of the Nigerian Presidency. And he is the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption [PACAC] Chairman; “the most respected and honourable Professor Itse Sagay [until he started falling from glory], a Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN] and a most senior teacher of law. This is what he said concerning Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s alleged involvement in certificate forgery.

    “The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she (Adeosun) is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman” because a lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her (Adeosun’s) expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.”

    When he was asked if it was not an offence to skip NYSC, listened to what Professor Itse Sagay said: “Who cares about youth service? I don’t bloody care whether she did youth service or not. It’s irrelevant as far as I am concerned.”

    C-O-U-R-T!
    This court presided over by the most dishonourable Justice Sagaga Iseaye on this case of Kemisto Ade-a-osun adjourns till next week Tuesday. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Nigerian Community, meet me here next week for delivering of judgment on this most topical case of our times.

    Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.
    Contact: godwin@thenewsguru.ng

  • #AdeosunGate: SERAP drags NYSC to court for failure to publish exemption certificate

    #AdeosunGate: SERAP drags NYSC to court for failure to publish exemption certificate

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for failing to publish the exemption certificate of Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, was allegedly issued to her by the agency some few years ago.

    Recall that an online news platform, Premium Times, had reported last month that the Minister forged her exemption certificate even when she was not eligible by law to be exempted from one-year mandatory service, having graduated from college before the age of 30. The Minister finished from a London higher institution in 1989 at 22 and she was supposed to return to Nigeria for the NYSC programme, but she did not.

    Earlier this month, SERAP gave NYSC seven days to confirm if it issued the exemption certificate to Mrs Adeosun or face a legal action.

    However, the seven-day ultimatum passed without any response from the agency, which had earlier said it was investigating the matter.

    In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1369/18 filed yesterday at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling General Kazaure and the NYSC to urgently provide specific documents and information on Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s application to the NYSC for Exemption and to publish widely including on a dedicated and on the NYSC website, any such information.”

    The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information request dated 2 August 2018 to General Kazaure, giving him 7 days to provide “information on specific details and documents on the Exemption Certificate applied for and obtained by Mrs Adeosun; clarify whether the NYSC actually granted her the Exemption Certificate and if it did, the circumstances and the provisions of the NYSC Act under which the Exemption Certificate was granted.”

    The suit, which also joined the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure and filed on behalf of SERAP by its counsel, Ms Bamisope Adeyanju, read in part: “Suspicions of obtaining unauthorised certificate involving a senior member of the government if not urgently and satisfactorily addressed would weaken public trust in the government’s oft-expressed commitment to transparency and accountability.

    “By the combined provisions of section 104(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011 and sections 14(2)(b) 14(3) and 19(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, the NYSC, being the public institution in charge of issuing exemption certificates from the compulsory NYSC Programme, and having publicly declared that Mrs. Adeosun applied for exemption, has a duty to provide SERAP with details and documents containing the application for exemption and the exemption certificate itself, if it was granted.

    “Mandamus lies to secure the performance of a public duty in the performance which SERAP has a sufficient legal interest. SERAP has shown that it has demanded the performance of the duty by the NYSC in this case, and that performance has been refused by the Director-General of the NYSC obliged to discharge it.

    “The right of access to information should be subject to a narrow, carefully tailored system of exceptions. Exceptions should apply only where there is a risk of substantial harm to the protected interest and where that harm is greater than the overriding public interest in having access to the information.

    “SERAP requested the NYSC to provide the information within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of the letter. But since the receipt of the letter by the NYSC and up till the filing of this suit, the NYSC has failed, refused and/or neglected to respond to or grant SERAP’s request.

    “This matter is of utmost national importance and public interest, because it borders on allegations of circumvention of the law, brought against a high public officer of Nigeria, who has sworn on oath to uphold the laws of the nation; including the NYSC Act. The grant of this application will help reveal the truth about the authenticity of the Exemption Certificate granted to Mrs Adeosun.

    “By the combined provisions of Sections 1; 2; 3(4); 4; 7(1)&(5); 9; 14(2)(b)&3; 19(2); and 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, the right of access to information is guaranteed and there is a statutory obligation on the NYSC being a public institution, to proactively keep, organize and maintain all information or records about their operations, personnel, activities and other relevant or related information or records in a manner that facilitates public access to such information or record.

    “The NYSC has no reason whatsoever not to comply with the demands by SERAP. There is compelling public interest in the disclosure of the information sought by SERAP, which concerns whether a high-ranking Minister had circumvented or disobeyed the law. The public interest in this case outweighs any private interest that the NYSC may be protecting. By the provision of Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, SERAP is entitled to apply to this Court for a review of the action of the NYSC.

    “Unless the reliefs sought by SERAP are granted, the NYSC will not provide SERAP with the documents and information requested and will continue to be in breach of the Freedom of Information Act.

    “SERAP is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information, including information on the Exemption allegedly applied for by Mrs Adeosun.”

    The suit is seeking the following reliefs:

    “A DECLARATION that the failure of the Respondents to provide the Applicant with specific documents and information on Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s application to it for NYSC Exemption is unlawful and amounts to a breach of the Respondents’ responsibility/obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

    “AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS directing and/or compelling the Respondents to urgently provide the Applicant with specific documents and information on Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s application to it for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Exemption and to publish widely including on a dedicated and on the NYSC website, any such information.

    “A DECLARATION that the failure of the Respondents to provide the Applicant with specific documents and information on the following:

    “i. the procedure under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to “apply” for NYSC Exemption;

    “ii. whether an authorized official of the NYSC actually issued an Exemption Certificate to Mrs. Kemi Adeosun;

    “iii. if NYSC did issue the NYSC Exemption Certificate, the circumstances and the provisions of the NYSC Act under which the Exemption Certificate was granted; and to publish widely including on a dedicated website and on the NYSC website, any such information, is unlawful and amounts to a breach of the Respondent’s obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

    “AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS directing and/or compelling the Respondents to urgently provide the Applicant with specific documents and information on the following:

    “i. the procedure under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to “apply” for NYSC Exemption;

    “ii. whether an authorized official of the NYSC actually issued an Exemption Certificate to Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; if NYSC did issue the NYSC Exemption Certificate, the circumstances and the provisions of the NYSC Act under which the Exemption Certificate was granted; and to publish widely including on a dedicated website and on the NYSC website, any such information.”

    Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • Kemi Adeosun and the NYSC saga

    Kemi Adeosun and the NYSC saga

    By Carl Umegboro

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has been in the eyes of the storm over her exemption certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    As a result, pressures have persisted calling for her response or immediate removal from office by President Muhammadu Buhari over forgery. From arguments in some quarters, the NYSC exemption certificate Adeosun presented wouldn’t have been genuinely issued at such a time she was below the stipulated age for exemption among other complex issues and the critics therefore tagged it fake, and demanded for her prosecution like others facing corruption charges. The federal government consequently, ordered a thorough investigation by the relevant bodies.

    No doubt, the calls for investigations are a step in the right direction but for her distractions or removal from office, the timing is precariously wide of the mark. A finance minister that may rarely be sleeping at nights due to the sensitive nature of her job and the ministry that is the brainbox of the economy deserve no distraction as frivolous as the NYSC exemption issues. If the forgery is substantiated by the investigations, it is condemnable but inadequate to constitute distractions while she is in office. Professionally, the portfolio requires optimum concentration.

    The alleged forgery ideally should have been dealt with during her screening by the Senate and not while engaged with sensitive responsibilities for the nation, hence, a pre-appointment issue.

    The essence of screening is to deal with such subtle issues prior to assigning portfolios and responsibilities to nominees. And irrefutably, the office of finance minister is all-encompassing that any distractions may cost the nation enormously, and therefore irrational to expect such an official to abandon her duties to be running after who signed or who didn’t sign the exemption certificate for her. Most likely, the uproars, asking Adeosun to divide her concentration over mere NYSC certificate are not abreast of challenges the portfolio demands or possibly want the economy crumbled at all costs.

    The most absurd in the story is that the controversy wasn’t that she falsely claimed to have participated in the scheme, as she rightly admitted that she didn’t and the certificate equally indicated so but probably from a purported wrong source.

    Assuming the certification is related to her professional career or even as low as secondary school certificate, the hullabaloos will make good sense. Unarguably, the nation presently cannot afford to be ascribing such importance to trivial issues at the detriment of economic growth. Finance minister is not an office that can be subjected to partisanship or frolicsome issues. Again, it will be height of expensive jokes to fire Adeosun over mere NYSC exemption certification and notice later that an international organization hired her as witnessed in the past.

    At this critical time of restructuring with its concomitant effects, what the populaces should focus attention on is the minister’s competence which is not in doubt. Adeosun is evidently sound and dependable. Unequivocally, she knows her onions. Nigerians should rather celebrate such a proficient figure, expediently fetched to fill the vacuum Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla left and high standard set during her tenure which convincingly shows that Nigerian women are up and doing, and can truly, productively manage key responsibilities and compete with, if not surpass counterparts around the world.

    By implications, whatever be the case should wait till after her office except where issues are related to abuse of office. Crimes do not have expiry dates. At the moment, paramount to the nation is people-oriented policies that can impact positively on the vulnerable masses languishing in penury. Government should pragmatically focus on issues that can eradicate poverty and protracted miseries. Any other things can wait except looting, diversion of public funds and insecurity. Gradually, we will get to other corrupt practices like NYSC certification, claiming attendance while absent even during lectures, acquiring driver’s licenses without practical training, admissions without JAMB’s outlined scores, among others that have thrived fantastically over the years in the country.

    An occupant of a house on inferno doesn’t go after rats, says an adage. This is the appropriate illustration of the controversy. Citizens are restless, looking forward to see costs of living become affordable and healthcare facilities available particularly to the helpless ratios.

    Masses want to see radical job creations that can cater for over 100,000 graduates that pass out yearly from 152 accredited universities across the nation. People earnestly look forward to a highly stimulated and friendly economy that can boost small-and-medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). These should be the focal points of those in governments alongside oppositions, and not on frivolities or inconsequentialities.

    From experiences, political parties will always reign and fizzle away some day. National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) among others in their time brawled and reigned.

    Lastly, they all disappeared. But Nigeria remains. Hitherto, PDP reigned, cruised closely two decades but presently peeping from afar. Thus, politics must be friendly, impactful and chivalrous. Allotting enormous time and energy on mere NYSC exemption certificate; not even a discharge certificate which implies that the holder at least, reconnoitered new environs, attempted how to climb trees or mountains, or ran with luggage on the head, leaves much to be desired especially without putting the sensitive nature of the office in question into consideration for national interest.

    For example, some years ago, the then President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton had a messy episode, grievous and sufficient for his impeachment but Americans prudently, objectively disregarded it in their best interests and moved on. That is nationalism in reality. Frankly-speaking, the do-or-die politics in Nigeria is indeed worrisome and despicable. Thus, while opposition, scheming and politicking are encouraged as conventional norms for universal suffrage, the interest of the nation must essentially, always be given its rightful prominent position.

     

  • Adeosun too good to be sacked, I don’t bloody care if she did NYSC or not – Sagay

    Adeosun too good to be sacked, I don’t bloody care if she did NYSC or not – Sagay

    The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman, Itse Sagay (SAN), has downplayed the controversy about the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate of Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

    Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on the UK Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), Sagay also said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot afford to sack Adeosun.

    “I don’t know why the government has not reacted. But, let me tell you my reaction: This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government”, Nation quoted him as saying.

    “A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.

    “There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.

    “Who cares about youth service? I don’t bloody care whether she did youth service or not. It’s irrelevant as far as I am concerned.”

    “I don’t believe it. I don’t see anything serious about not doing youth service. I don’t see anything serious about it. That’s my own bias, not government’s.

    “I’m telling you now. If you ask me – If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because she’s damn good,” he added.

  • Adeosun returns to Twitter with FEC reports, Nigerians demand her NYSC certificate reports

    Adeosun returns to Twitter with FEC reports, Nigerians demand her NYSC certificate reports

    32 days after Premium Times, an online newspaper, broke the report of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun’s alleged forgery of her National Youth Service Corp [NYSC] exemption certificate, the accused [Adeosun] collapsed every communication channel to her office, went underground and never gave a response on the issue.

    However, on Wednesday evening, the embattled minster finally returned to Twitter to share details of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting which held in Abuja today.

    In her series of tweet, Adeosun listed some of the high-points at the FEC meeting but Nigerians from their reactions to the minister’s tweet, seem to be more interested in what she has to say on the NYSC certificate forgery allegation.

    In less than three hours after the finance minister dropped her ‘come-back’tweets, TheNewsGuru observed that hundreds of netizens flooded her timeline with questions pertaining to her NYSC certificate scandal.

    Here are some of the feedback sent to the minister on her Twitter page:

    Adeosun had come under fire with several Nigerians, particularly on the social media, demanding investigations from the Federal Government into the allegations and calling for her resignation for presenting an alleged forged exemption certificate.

    The reports claimed that the finance minister, who did not participate in the one-year national youth service, allegedly forged an Exemption Certificate several years after her graduation.

    The certificate, which is dated September 2009, was reportedly signed by an NYSC Director-General, Yusuf Bomoi, who already left the scheme in January 2009.

     

  • Why Buhari won’t act on Adeosun’s certificate scandal – Lai Mohammed

    Why Buhari won’t act on Adeosun’s certificate scandal – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity remains intact, in spite of the allegation of certificate forgery against his Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

    Mr Mohammed said this on Monday when he paid an official visit to the Abuja office of The Authority Newspaper.

    Responding to a question from the editorial management of the paper on why Mr Buhari was still keeping Mrs Adeosun in his cabinet, Mohammed said the case was still under investigation.

    He said the appropriate agencies were still investigating the allegation against the finance minister and should be allowed to do their jobs.

    Mrs Adeosun was alleged to have forged a National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.

    “Until when an allegation is proven, you do not expect the President to act.

    “The appropriate agencies have spoken and they say they are investigating. The only thing we can do is to wait.

    “By saying that the minister should resign or be sacked while investigation is still ongoing may also not be feasible in our clime because of the level of false accusations.

    “How many times have they accused me of embezzlement? Even recently, they said my driver jumped out of the car, abandoned me and decamped to PDP.

    “People even made the allegation that President Buhari did not have certificate.’’

    The minister insisted that the president will be usurping the powers of the investigating agencies if he sacked Adeosun before their reports.

    “For instance, people have come to me that so and so TV and Radio stations are spreading fake news and I should shut them down.

    “I told them that I do not have the power to do so; it is the responsibility of the National Broadcasting Commission, even though it is an agency under my watch.

    “We are as concerned as you are; but having spent some time in government, you will see that a lot of lies are being peddled about us.”

    Mr Mohammed gave an assurance that the government would not sweep the matter under the carpet.

    The minister also responded to the report in some quarters that the government would share to the poor the Abacha loot repatriated by the Swiss Government, describing the insinuation mischievous.

    “When the first tranche of Abacha loot was paid under former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Swiss Government found out that the money was re-looted by those in the administration.

    “So, when they wanted to release the next tranche, they put the condition that it must be used for the most vulnerable Nigerians.

    “We said there is no problem. It is the money we are using to finance our social investment programmes comprising four components.’’

    Mr Mohammed further said that 8.5 million pupils in government schools across the country were currently being fed under the Home Grown Feeding Programme.

    Similarly, he said that over 400,000 families were being paid stipends of N5,000 every month under the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.

    “The beauty of this programme is that it is being done in collaboration with the World Bank.

    “It is the World Bank and various agencies that determine the beneficiaries and who are the most vulnerable Nigerians.’’

    Mr Mohammed said part of the money was being used to finance the employment of young graduates through the N-POWER programme.

    He said no fewer than 200,000 people had been employed in the first batch and another 200,000 would be resuming very soon.

    “The fourth is the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme whereby, market women, craft people etc. are given loan between N50,000 and N100,000

    “So, when we say this money is being used for the poor people, it is not as if we are sharing it to poor people in the states,’’ he said.

    Mr Mohammed said the Buhari administration would remain accountable and committed to the welfare of the common people.

  • SERAP demands information on Adeosun from NYSC boss

    A Freedom of Information request has been sent to the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, demanding information on the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

    The group said within seven days, it wants Brig. Gen. Sule Kazaure to use his good offices to provide it “information and documents on whether or not Mrs Adeosun applied for NYSC Exemption Certificate, and if she did, to clarify whether the NYSC actually granted her the Exemption Certificate, the circumstances and the provisions of the NYSC Act under which the Exemption Certificate was granted.”

    SERAP, in a statement on Thursday, by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, said Adeosun deserved to be given the benefit of the doubt, while awaiting the official reply of the NYSC.

    The group said the information it requested from the NYSC DG was important to it, as it would enable it to either compel the Attorney General of the Federation to file criminal charges against Adeosun or consider private prosecution if the forgery allegation was true.

    “By providing information and documents on the Exemption Certificate, the NYSC would help to put an end to any insinuation of complicity and show that the institution can embrace transparency and accountability in the discharge of its statutory mandates. This would in turn contribute to improved integrity and public image of the NYSC.

    “Mrs Adeosun remains innocent until the allegations against her are properly tested and proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of competent jurisdiction, based on relevant admissible evidence. But the continuing silence by the NYSC management on the matter may create an impression that an offence may have been committed, and lead to the accusation that the management has something to hide.

    “We urge you (Kazaure) and the entire NYSC management and leadership to open up on the matter and provide information and documents as requested. This will be one step in the right direction.

    “If the information is not provided to us within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request,” the statement reads.