A Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Wednesday ruled that former Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was ineligible for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC).
The court said she was not supposed to present herself for National Youth Service because under the 1979 Constitution, which was in force at the time of her graduation, she was not a Nigerian citizen either at the time of her graduation or when she turned 30.
According to the ruling, the constitution does not require her to present her first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a minister.
The court, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo ruled that the ministerial appointment of Adeosun was not illegal, neither was it unconstitutional, even without presenting the NYSC certificate.
In its ruling on a suit for constitutional interpretation filed at the court in March 2021 by the firm of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on behalf of Adeosun, the court said since the 1979 constitution, which was in force at the time did not recognise dual citizenship, Adeosun could not have served because she was a British citizen.
Adeosun graduated from the University of East London in 1989, at the age of 22.
The court ruled that Nigeria citizenship only reverted under the extant Constitution, by which time Adeosun was well above 30, and by the court ruling ineligible to participate in the NYSC scheme, as the scheme is exclusively reserved for Nigeria.
The court granted all reliefs sought by Adeosun’s counsel.
Responding to the ruling, Adeosun’s lawyers said, “Today’s ruling vindicates my client. The court has made it clear that at the time she presented for public service starting from 2011 up till 2015, she was not required to perform the NYSC under the 1979 Constitution, since the client graduated in 1989.
“Client wishes to state, without equivocation, that in light of all that happened, she is exploring other remedies within the law and will take the appropriate steps at the right time”, he stated.
Recall that Adeosun resigned on allegations that her NYSC certificate was forged.
There are strong suspicions that events that forced her out of office were the handiwork of some powerful and highly placed forces who had an axe to grind.
