“Adeosun was not qualified to have participated in the scheme when she graduated at the age of 22 years because she was then a British citizen”
“As at when she formally returned to Nigeria, and became a Nigerian citizen, at over 30 years, she was not eligible to present herself for the NYSC service”
A former Finance Minister, Mr Kemi Adeosun, was on Wednesday cleared by a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged non-participation in the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme which disqualified her to continue to serve as minister.
In a landmark judgment, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, said Adeosun was not qualified to have participated in the scheme when she graduated at the age of 22 years because she was then a British citizen.
He said as at when she formally returned to Nigeria, and became a Nigerian citizen, at over 30 years, she was not eligible to present herself for the NYSC service.
Persecondnews recalls that Adeosun was pressured to resign on September 18,2018 amid controversy over alleged forgery of the NYSC discharge certificate.
Adeosun from Ogun State, had lived in the UK until she clocked 34 years and she said she had been told she was exempted because she was over 30.
The former investment banker said she was issued with a certificate that she thought was genuine.
“The plaintiff or anyone did not require a discharge certificate of NYSC to qualify to contest election to the House of Representatives or be appointed a Minister in Nigeria,” Taiwo declared.
The judge, therefore, granted Adeosun all the four reliefs sought by her among others 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.
Also the discharge certificate is not a requirement for appointment as minister or to contest election in Nigeria.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister, Malam Abubakar Malami is the sole defendant in the suit.
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