Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has said her resignation from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was the result of actions by “powerful enemies.”
According to her, these powerful enemies seized on the controversy surrounding her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate to push her out of office.
Naijaonpoint reports that Adeosun made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television, scheduled to air on Friday. An excerpt from the programme Inside Sources was broadcast on Thursday as part of the station’s news bulletin.
Recall that Adeosun resigned in 2018 following allegations that she submitted a forged NYSC certificate as part of her credentials.
Speaking in the interview, the former finance minister said internal opposition within the Buhari-led government took advantage of the controversy to force her resignation.
“I’m not confused about the fact that I had powerful enemies who I believed saw an opportunity. Let’s get rid of her,” she said.
Adeosun explained that she personally informed President Buhari of the development and her intention to seek legal redress, stressing that it was impossible to remain in office while suing the government.
“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,’” she stated.
According to her, Buhari supported her decision, warning against sacrificing one’s reputation for political office.
“He said, ‘I absolutely support you. Because these names are leased for our children and grandchildren, right? They are going to inherit them,’” Adeosun said.
“And then you destroy your name because you want to stay as minister. For what?”
Adeosun said she proceeded to sue the Federal Government after stepping down, insisting that resignation was the only ethical option available.
“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,” she added.
In July 2021, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Adeosun could not be subjected to any penalty or forfeiture over her occupation due to the NYSC certificate issue.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that Adeosun was under no obligation to present an NYSC certificate to hold public office in Nigeria. However, the court did not make a pronouncement on the allegation that the certificate in question was forged.