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

Kemi Adeosun, the former minister of finance, has attributed her resignation from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to the 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 finance minister following allegations that she tendered a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as part of her credentials.

Speaking during the interview, the former finance minister said “powerful enemies” in the Buhari-led administration saw the NYSC certificate controversy as an “opportunity to get rid of her”.

Adeosun said before her resignation, she approached Buhari to inform him about the development and her decision to initiate legal proceedings against the federal government.

She said she cannot continue working in the cabinet and still initiate legal proceedings against the federal government.

“I’m not confused about the fact that I had powerful enemies who 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? The day I resigned I went to go and see the president. I said, ‘Mr President, I need to go but I will go to court to clear my name’.

“He said, ‘I absolutely support you. Because these names are leased for our children and grandchildren, right? They are going to inherit them’.

“And then you destroy your name because you want to stay as minister. For what?

“I sued the federal government. You can’t be suing the government and staying in the government. You can’t. You have to go. I think it is the right thing to do.”

In July 2021, a federal high court in Abuja granted a declaration that Adeosun cannot be subjected to any penalty or forfeiture in relation to her occupation due to the NYSC certificate.

Taiwo Taiwo, a judge, had ruled that Adeosun had no obligation to produce her NYSC certificate to hold a public office in Nigeria.

The court, however, was silent on the alleged forged certificate. (The Cable)