Alleged Certificate Fraud: Renounce or Resign, BudgIT Tells Adeosun

Peter Uzoho

On the heels of the alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her apparent refusal to speak up and clear the air, a civil tech organistion, BudgIT Nigeria, has called on the minister to “renounce the allegation or resign” from her appointment as minister.

In a statement issued yesterday, which was signed by its Communications Lead, Abiola Afolabi, and made available to THISDAY, BudgIT expressed disappointment at the minister’s silence over the alleged forged certificate, saying while many concerned citizens awaited a comprehensive response from the government official, there has been no rebuttal from the accused and also no conclusive position from the National Youth Service Corps.

The statement read in part: “In an investigative report released by Premium Times, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was accused of skipping the compulsory one-year national youth service and presenting forged exemption certification to the National Assembly. We also notice recent reports that the minister released N10 billion for the National Assembly to settle liabilities, a fund that ended up in the purchase of exotic vehicles for the legislators.

“As an organisation with interest in transparency and accountability, we believe it is dangerous to put public funds in charge of a person that can be easily blackmailed by individuals. We also accept that towards the 2019 elections, Nigeria needs to have a person of right character to lead its Finance Ministry, considering how public treasury can be easily shortened to satisfy political interests.

“The Buhari administration has often opined its commitments to weed out corruption and other related vices but we find the silence an antithesis to such disposition. We find the certificate saga an indictment on the capability of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Department of State Services (DSS), National Assembly and National Youth Service Corps. We affirm that Nigerian institutions are being compromised on the altar of political expediency and the “Change” mantra as advanced by the current governing party is gradually a trite phrase.”

It further said: “The current issue is an example of gross misconduct within the cabinet of an administration that prides itself on integrity. We call on President Buhari to take appropriate actIon regarding this and also for the Honorable Minister to provide a response to the allegations. Without a convincing response to this ignoble situation, we call on Ms. Kemi Adeosun to resign from her position as the Honorable Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and accept the consequences of her actions as stated in the law.

“We affirm Ms. Kemi Adeosun poses a risk to the treasury with alleged unauthentic documents which she has used to function as the Ogun State Commissioner of Finance and Honourable Minister of Finance. BudgIT looks forward to expedited resolution of this matter.”