The presidency has disclosed that the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, is being investigated over claims that she forged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate that she presented for her clearance by the senate.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed this while appearing on “Kakaaki“, an African Independent Television (AIT) programme on Monday morning.
Recall that popular online newspaper, Premium Times had published a damning report two months ago accusing Adeosun of forging her NYSC certificate.
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But the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the NYSC had defended the embattled minister, with Mohammed hinting of an investigation into the matter.
Speaking on the matter, Shehu said that naysayers were behind the “unproven allegations”.
The presidential aide added that the purveyors of the story would believe whatever they want irrespective of the result of the investigation.
He said, “The Minister of Information has spoken on the matter. And a process is ongoing to address the allegations. When that process is completed, Nigerians will know the outcome.
“Some people want a particular outcome, and because they are yet to see this outcome, they are not happy. Give it (investigation) time. There is a process ongoing.
“It’s an allegation. If it is proven, you will see what will happen. The minister and the NYSC have spoken on the matter.”
When pressed on the length of the investigation, which reportedly commenced two months ago, Shehu said, “It is not for me to decide (the duration). I don’t have the full facts of the matter, so why the investigation is not out, I don’t know. I hope there will be an early outcome.
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“Don’t forget, these people (Mrs. Adeosun and other indicted officials), whose names are being dragged in the mud have families and relatives. We hope their innocence will be established.”
But in its reaction to Shehu’s comments on the issue, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the presidency of being at its “wit’s end” over the matter.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “They have come to their wit’s end in their game of deceiving Nigerians, that is why they can say that they are still investigating.
“Every Nigerian is aware that if you are aged 22 at graduation, you cannot get an exemption from the NYSC. That fact speaks for itself, so they should stop pretending and face the fact that their Minister of Finance absconded from national service and even forged an exemption letter. This further portrays this government as fraudulent.”
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