Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday cautioned the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, not to allow the “Buhari Presidency to coerce it into sweeping under the carpet the NYSC certificate forgery case against the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, with a purported investigation.”
Adeosun’s official credentials reportedly showed that she parades an alleged fake NYSC exemption certificate, which was issued in September 2009, granting her exemption from the mandatory national service on account of age.
But, NYSC, in a statement by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi said available records indicated that Adeosun did apply for an Exemption Certificate.
However, the party in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan stated that“It is instructive for NYSC to note that all issues in the news report that Mrs Adeosun forged her NYSC Exemption Certificate as well as reports that the Presidency is mounting pressure on NYSC to cover up for the minister are already in the public domain.
“Nigerians are closely monitoring this issue and the public is already aware of the pressure on the NYSC leadership to announce a misplacement of relevant files and other excuses to achieve a dead end in the investigation.
“The NYSC must, therefore, know that its reputation is highly at stake as Nigerians are already agitated over the questionable delay by the Corps in coming out with an answer on a direct issue that requires a simple computer or even manual file check at its headquarters.
“Indeed, a simple process of matching the serial numbering, date and authorizing signature on Mrs Adeosun’s certificate does not require a lengthy investigation or the current shenanigan going on at the NYSC headquarters.
“NYSC is advised to have in mind that in this age of global Information Communication Technology (ICT), there is nothing anybody can do to suppress or distort facts, even in the public service. Any attempt to cover up will invoke the wrath of Nigerians and irredeemably rubbish the integrity and respect the Corps has earned over the years.
“The NYSC must therefore not allow its reputation to be dragged in the mud by the discredited All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration that has become notorious for concealment of fraud and sharp practices by its officials.”
