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Certificate Forgery: Group Petitions IGP, Seeks Investigation of Finance Minister

Published

8 years ago

July 16, 2018

Eric

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA), a non-governmental organisation, has asked the Inspector-General of Police to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into the allegations of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery against Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s finance minister.

In a petition to the IGP and signed by HEDA’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said if the minister is found culpable of the allegation, she should be prosecuted. It added that the State Security Services officers responsible for vetting her certificate and members of the parliament accused of extorting her situation for budgetary favours, should also face the music.

Taking its cue from a report, HEDA said. “According to an exclusive report in the publication of Premium Times, an online Newspaper, dated the 7th day of July, 2018, Nigeria’s finance minister, Kemi Adeosun did not participate in the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Scheme, instead she allegedly forged an exemption certificate many years after graduation.”

The group said that it is worth noting that the yearlong service organised by the National Youth Service Corps is compulsory for all Nigerians who graduate from universities or equivalent institutions, within or outside Nigeria, at less than 30 years of age. According to the provisions of Section 13 of the NYSC Act, eligible Nigerians who skip the service year are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2000 fine.

Section 13(3) of the said Act also further provides for a jail term of three years or option of N5000 fine for anyone who contravenes the provisions of the law.

Section 13(4) of the NYSC Act specifically criminalises giving false information or illegally obtaining the agency’s certificate and as such provides for up to three years jail term for offenders.

“According to reports, Mrs Adeosun is said to have graduated from the University of East London, formerly known as Polytechnic of East London in 1989 while she was at the age 22. According to her curriculum vitae, she was born in March, 1967.

“Having graduated at 22, it was obligatory for Mrs Adeosun to participate in the one-year national service, for her to qualify for any job, public or private, in Nigeria. This is premised upon the fact that her entire circumstances do not even in the first place qualify her for an exemption certificate from the mandatory service. However, reports have it that the embattled minister, having been concerned that she might run into trouble for skipping the mandatory scheme, sometime in 2009 allegedly procured a fake exemption certificate.

“Further investigation confirming the alleged forgery is the fact that Mrs. Adeosun’s purported exemption certificate is dated September 9, 2009, and purportedly signed by Yusuf Bomoi, a former Director-General
of the corps. However, officials said Mr Bomoi stepped down from the NYSC position in January 2009 and could not have signed any certificate for the corps eight months after.

“Top officials of the NYSC, both current and former officials, familiar with the issues of exemption and the likes stated that the NYSC does not issue an exemption certificate to anyone who, like the minister, graduates before turning 30.”

HEDA stressed that it is pertinent to note that Mrs Adeosun has used the alleged ‘fake’ certificate to clinch high profile jobs in Nigeria illegally, ranging from her service as a managing director with Quo Vadis Partnerships, Commissioner for Finance with the Ogun State Government and currently serving as Minister of Finance with the Federal government.

“The alleged forgery is also reported to be a tool being used by the National Assembly to ‘blackmail’ Mrs Adeosun to release funds to the legislative arm of government, the National Assembly, having discovered the forgery during her screening/confirmation exercise as finance minister in 2015.

“According to an official statement of the NYSC as regards the forgery scandal, the scheme purportedly stated that there is evidence that the embattled minister had indeed applied for an exemption certificate and promised to investigate the alleged forged exemption certificate.”

The resource centre averred that, “The said NYSC statement confirms to a reasonable degree the allegations of forgery, as the corps would have made bold to state authoritatively that it issued the said exemption certificate, if that was the case, without requiring further investigations, since the corps is deemed to have records of all its issuance of exemption certificates.

“We are convinced, beyond reasonable doubt that the NYSC could not have issued an exemption certificate to Mrs. Adeosun who does not fall within the category of those classified for exemption under the NYSC Act. According to Section 2 (2) of the Act.”

HEDA however noted that, “In a situation where acknowledgement or response is not received from your office within two weeks of the receipt of this petition, this organisation will be left with no option than institute a legal action to compel action in accordance the law.”

Premium Times

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Alaafin Kicks As Makinde Okays Olubadan As Chair of Oba Council

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2026

Eric

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has faulted Governor Seyi Makinde over the announcement on the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, describing as incorrect the claim that he was consulted on the decision.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin said at no time did he meet with the governor or hold discussions with the Olubadan of Ibadanland or the Soun of Ogbomoso on the matter.

Governor Makinde, while inaugurating the reconstituted State Council of Obas and Chiefs, had announced that the chairmanship of the council would rotate among the Olubadan, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Alaafin of Oyo, with the Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, emerging as the pioneer chairman under the arrangement. The governor had also said the decision was reached in consultation with the three leading traditional rulers in the State.

However, the Alaafin’s Palace countered the claim, insisting that the monarch neither met with the governor nor endorsed the rotational arrangement.

“The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to a statement credited to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, that he consulted with the three traditional rulers in the state, the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso, on the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs,” the statement said.

“The Palace hereby states clearly that there was no time that His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, held any meeting with either the state governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned above.
“Also, the Alaafin did not tell the governor or make a categorical statement on his endorsement of rotational chairmanship among the three traditional rulers in the state.”

The Palace added that the position of the Alaafin and the entire Oyo community on the issue of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs had earlier been clearly articulated in a memorandum submitted to the governor by the Oyo Council of Elders, reflecting the long-standing historical position of Oyo on the structure and leadership of the council.
The development adds a fresh twist to the controversy surrounding the reconstitution of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which had generated intense public debate in recent weeks.

While the state government insists that the rotational system promotes equity, unity, and harmony among traditional institutions, critics argue that the arrangement undermines historical precedence and the traditional hierarchy in Yorubaland.

The Alaafin, regarded as one of the most influential and revered monarchs in Yorubaland, occupies a central place in Yoruba history as the head of the old Oyo Empire and a symbol of cultural and political authority.

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Fubara: Rivers Assembly Urges Chief Judge to Begin Impeachment Probe As Four Lawmakers Reverse Earlier Decision

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2026

Eric

Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday called on the Chief Judge of the state to set up panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The assembly members, who made the call through a unanimous vote, vowed to continue with the impeachment process.

The lawmakers had earlier addressed a live press conference in Port Harcourt where they accused Fubara of allegedly using blackmail.

Addressing journalists, the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, said Fubara lacked the trust needed to address the crisis rocking the oil-rich state.

They accused the governor of infringing on the 1999 Constitution, saying the parliament was left with no other choice but to apply their legislative power by impeaching him from office.

The lawmakers also claimed the governor and his deputy had resorted to intimidating the parliament.

They, however, thanked President Bola Tinubu for wading into the crisis.

“It is obvious that the only solution now is to apply the solution prescribed by the 1999 Constitution as altered, which is the impeachment of the incorrigible governor and the deputy governor,” Maol said.

“We therefore strongly appeal to leaders at all levels and the good people of Rivers State to kindly consider the problem at hand and understand that the impeachment process is the best way to go at this point.

“We are using this medium to call on the Speaker to allow the constitutional process to proceed unhindered. We thank our dear President, Bola Tinubu, who has demonstrated so much love for Rivers State. He did his best for the resolution of this impasse, but the governor and deputy governor are adamant,” the lawmaker added.

The members also called on the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, to reconvene the House.

Four members of the House who had held pressers, calling for a political solution, recanted and declared their support for the impeachment process to continue.

Shortly after the live press conference, the lawmakers made their way to the chambers for the commencement of a parliamentary session.

At plenary, the members unanimously voted in support of an investigation of the allegations of gross misconduct against Fubara and his deputy.

“This voting clearly shows the decision of the House,” Amaewhule declared while calling on the Chief Judge of the state to set up an panel of investigation.

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Abba’s Decision is Personal to Him, Atiku Reacts to Son Joining APC

Published

3 days ago

January 15, 2026

Eric

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has addressed his son, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar’s (Abba) decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a personal choice.

In a statement posted on his X handle, Atiku said, “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.”

He added, “As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.”

The former vice president also highlighted his concerns about the ruling party, saying, “What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.”

“ I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”