Adeosun says trusted associates put her in NYSC trouble

Kemi Adeosun, the finance minister until today, in her letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari responded for the first time officially to the allegation of forging the NYSC exemption certificate, by expressing profound shock.
In the letter dated today, the British-born Nigerian said she did not relocate to Nigeria until she was 34 years old, four years older than the 30-year limit for participation by corps members.
She blamed those she called ‘trusted associates’, who helped to arrange the ‘exemption certificate’, that came back to haunt her many years after.
“I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.
“On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.”
Her letter also revealed that she took the decision to resign after an internal investigation ordered by President Buhari declared the exemption certificate as fake.
The media aides to Adeosun had told Global Financial Digest (GFD) authoritatively on Friday that his principal did not resign as being speculated earlier.

He blamed the rumour on those who are seeking to take her job.

"The minister is in her office and all her staff also working, it is a mere rumour, please ignore," the source said preferred not to be named.
The official attributed the speculations to the handiwork of those who are scheming to take her place and those behind the allegations against her.
Another top aide also confirmed that indeed the minister has not resigned her appointment, but working at her table to ensure the economic stability of the country.
There was a wide speculation in both traditional and social media on Wednesday that the finance minister has threw in the towel after some months in the eyes of the storm over allegations trailing her exemption certificate for the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).
According to a report by Premium Times, Adeosun failed to participate in the compulsory national service for Nigerian graduates who are thirty years and below. The report stated that the certificate of exemption presented by the minister was forged.
While the authority of the NYSC has confirmed that the minister actually applied for an exemption from participating in the service, but noted that it was investigating the authenticity of the exemption certificate published by the online paper.
A former commissioner in Ogun State, Adeosun was appointed by President Mohammudu Buhari in November 2015 to head the finance ministry.