The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has
challenged the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun to resign if she cannot
respond to the allegation of certificate forgery leveled against her.
Adeosun’s official credentials reportedly showed that she parades a
purported fake NYSC exemption certificate, which was issued in September
2009, granting her exemption from the mandatory national service on
account of age.
However, CACOL, in a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Debo
Adeniran and sent to DAILY POST said, requested Adeosun to respond to
the allegations of certificate forgery leveled against her or throw in
the towel.
The statement reads, “What should not be encouraged, under any guise,
is a reign of impunity as the country steers towards consolidation of
its democratic culture. This scandal in which Mrs Adeosun is presently
enmeshed is a vindication of CACOL’s position taken as far back as 2015
that she was not morally upright to hold public office based on her
past.
“We recollect that this scandal- which was first broken by
PremiumTimesOnline Newspaper-had resulted in the Finance Minister
becoming vulnerable to blackmail from members of the National Assembly.
“She was reported to have approved fictitious budget heads on several
occasions and actually authorized the disbursement of huge sums of
money that were not approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to the
National Assembly. If this is found to be true, it is not only a
criminal but a clear violation of fiscal discipline and accountability.
“The nation is presently facing a lot of challenges which require the
present administration’s undivided attention-ranging from Fulani
herdsmen-farmers crisis to banditry, social dislocation and economic
crunch and cannot, therefore, afford to be bogged down by any
distractions or controversy arising from the recklessness of any public
official.
“Our current situation as a nation demands that public officers
serving the current government should be seen to be above board in
implementing the administration’s Change agenda. Public officers are
also compulsorily required to demonstrate transparency, responsibility
and accountability in steering the ship of state.”
“It is in this regard that we, therefore, call on President Buhari to
immediately wade into this matter by suspending Mrs. Kemi Adeosun from
her position as the Minister of Finance in order to allow full
investigation into the circumstances surrounding the forgery allegation
and misappropriation of funds under her Ministry.
“This is necessary to reinforce public confidence and send a clear
signal that no criminal conduct would be tolerated by this government”.