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 theportcitynews, 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”.
