Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has broken her silence on the circumstances surrounding her 2018 departure from office, alleging that “powerful enemies” within the administration weaponized a certificate controversy to force her out.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Adeosun reflected on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate scandal that led to her high-profile resignation during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term.
Adeosun, who stepped down following allegations that her NYSC exemption certificate was forged, clarified that her exit was a strategic move to protect her reputation and pursue legal recourse.
“I’m not confused about the fact that I had powerful enemies who I believed saw an opportunity. They said ‘Let’s get rid of her’,” she stated.
According to the former minister, the decision to resign was born out of a meeting with then-President Buhari, where she expressed the need to sue the government to clear her name—an action she felt was incompatible with remaining in the cabinet.
“You can’t be suing the government and staying in the government. You have to go. I think it is the right thing to do,” Adeosun remarked.
Adeosun revealed that President Buhari supported her decision to prioritize her name over her position, quoting him as saying, “These names are leased for our children and grandchildren… they are going to inherit them.”
She emphasized that the integrity of her family name outweighed the prestige of the ministerial portfolio. “You destroy your name because you want to stay as minister. For what?” she asked.
While the 2018 controversy centered on the authenticity of the document she presented, the legal battle that followed shifted the focus to eligibility requirements for a July 2021 Ruling. A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruled that Adeosun was not required to produce an NYSC certificate to hold public office or be a minister in Nigeria.
While the court cleared her of the obligation to serve, the ruling notably did not address the specific allegations regarding the “forged” nature of the certificate she originally submitted.
Adeosun’s full interview, which promises deeper insights into the internal politics of the Buhari administration, is scheduled to air this Friday on Channels Television.
