The police on Saturday explained why it is investigating allegations examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, and impersonation levelled against the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the recent Osun State election, Senator Ademola Adeleke while a freed a formed Minster of Finance, Kemi Adeosun over likely offences.
The police has said it will arraign Adeleke on October 31.
The police also accused the senator of presenting a forged birth certificate, stating that in his National Examination Council 2017 result obtained by detectives, he claimed that he was born on June 12, 1997, but in his statement to the police, the senator wrote May 13, 1960 as his date of birth.
Adeleke would be arraigned alongside his co-accused – Sikiru Adeleke; the Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau; a worker who handled the registration of candidates for NECO in the school, Mr. Gbadamosi Ojo; and a teacher who allegedly facilitated the crime, Mr. Dare Olutope.
Adeleke’s arraignment under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004, failed to hold on Tuesday following his absence before Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Force had a few days to the Osun election, filed criminal charges against the PDP governorship candidate and four others at the Federal High Court and directed him to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force headquarters, Abuja, immediately to answer the charges.
The arraignment was, however, suspended by the Presidency following criticisms by Nigerians who felt that the action was politically motivated and calculated to humiliate him and frustrate his electoral chances.
The police had explained that on July 21, 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Adeleke and Sikiru at Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School in the state.
But while the police were taking steps to prosecute Adeleke, the Force failed to investigate or prosecute a former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for certificate forgery.
Adeosun resigned as minister on September 14 following an investigation which indicted her for presenting a forged National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.
She subsequently left for London, United Kingdom less than 24 hours after tendering her resignation letter.
The police claimed that they had no idea that she was involved in the forgery of the NYSC exemption certificate.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, told our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, that there was no formal complaint against the ex-minister. He explained that Adeosun was not prosecuted for forgery because she was not investigated by the Force.
“We don’t know anything about her case because nobody reported any matter to us, we didn’t have any complaint against her, and nobody complained or reported to us. The Force has no knowledge of any case,” Moshood stated.
When told that the matter was covered by the media for months, he retorted, “Did you (our correspondent) report to us?”
Reminded that a non-governmental organisation, Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to probe the forgery allegations against Adeosun before she resigned, Moshood directed further inquiries to the NGO.
Tag: Certificate Forgery
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Certificate forgery: Why we prosecute Adeleke, allow Adeosun walk away – Police
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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
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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.