Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has attributed her resignation from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to the actions of what she described as “powerful enemies” within the government.
Adeosun made the revelation during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, scheduled to air on Friday. An excerpt of the interview was broadcast on Thursday as part of a news bulletin.
She recalled that in 2018, she stepped down from office following allegations that she submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as part of her credentials.
According to her, certain influential individuals in the Buhari-led administration took advantage of the controversy to force her out.
“I’m not confused about the fact that I had powerful enemies who I believed saw an opportunity. Let’s get rid of her,” Adeosun said.
The former minister explained that before resigning, she met with President Buhari to brief him on the situation and informed him of her intention to seek legal redress to clear her name.
She said it would have been inappropriate to remain in the cabinet while taking legal action against the federal government.
“No one resigned in finance but I did. Why did I resign? The day I resigned, I went to see the president. I told him, ‘Mr President, I need to go, but I will go to court to clear my name,’” she stated.
According to Adeosun, Buhari supported her decision, noting the importance of protecting one’s name and legacy.
In July 2021, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Adeosun could not be subjected to any penalty or forfeiture in relation to her occupation over the NYSC certificate issue.
The presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that she 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.
