Court clears ex-minister Adeosun, says NYSC not needed for public office

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cleared former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adosun, of any wrongdoing over her non-participation in the National Youths Service Corps scheme before taking up a public office job.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment on Wednesday, held that Adeosun was not qualified to have participated in the scheme when she graduated at 22 years because she was then a British citizen.

The judge further held as of the time she formally returned to Nigeria, and became a Nigerian citizen at over 30 years, she was no longer eligible to present herself for the NYSC service.

Justice Taiwo said the plaintiff or anyone did not require a discharge certificate of the NYSC to qualify to contest election to the House of Representatives or be appointed a minister in Nigeria.

The judgment ‎was on a suit marked: FhC/ABJ/CS/303/2021 filed by Adeosun, with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the sole defendant.

The judge granted the four reliefs sought by the plaintiff, to include “a declaration that the plaintiff,being a United Kingdom citizen as at 1989 when she graduated from the University of East London, London, United Kingdom at 22, she was ineligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corpse scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N8, LFN, 2004.”