The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, finally bowed to pressure by tendering her resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
Her resignation followed an allegation in a Premium Times report that she forged her National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Friday that Buhari had accepted the minister’s resignation letter.
According to the statement,
“President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday accepted the resignation of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
“The President thanked the minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.
“The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today (Friday).”
Her resignation letter read in part,
“I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from the National Youth Service Corps that I had presented was not genuine.
“This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.
“Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter.
“I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of 34 were holidays, with visa obtained in my UK passport.
“I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of 34 and when I relocated, there was debate as to whether the NYSC law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to the NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of 30, I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.
“On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those I thought were trusted associates, the NYSC was approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in the NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.
“Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for the Department of State Services clearance, as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, September 14, 2018.”
“Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support during the long search for the truth in this matter.
“I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted.
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
