Former Nigerian finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, who resigned her position on Friday on account of forging a certificate of national service risks jail term of up to 14 years.

A lawyer, Shuaibu Sule, listed five offences he said the minister is liable for.

The offences include forgery, possession of fake document, uttering, giving false information and skipping the national service.

They carry jail terms of between one to 14 years, according to the Penal Code Law and the National Youth Service (NYSC) Act.

Mrs Adeosun’s certificate scandal was first blown by PREMIUM TIMES in a July 7 story which detailed how the minister skipped the mandatory national service and forged an exemption certificate to cover for it.

The year-long service, organised by the NYSC is compulsory for all Nigerians who graduate from a university or equivalent institution at the age of 30 or below.

In addition to being a requirement for government and private sector jobs in Nigeria, the enabling law prescribes punishment for anyone who absconds from the scheme or forges its certificates.

On Friday, the Presidency announced her resignation from office, and released the resignation letter in which Mrs Adeosun owned up to the crime. She said she was “helped” by some unnamed associates to get the exemption certificate.

“Her resignation should not be the end of it. She should be investigated and prosecuted for committing a number of crimes,” Mr Sule told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning.

The lawyer said Mrs Adeosun could be charged for offences under Section 140 of the Penal Code, which borders on giving false information and attracts up to one year prison term and/or fine.

What The Law Says

The penal code operates in the northern part of Nigeria, including Abuja. While Mrs Adeosun is from Ogun in the south, lawyers say the law would apply as the offence was committed in Abuja.

Sections 364 and 368 of the same law, according to Mr Sule, provides for up to 14 years in jail for faking a document and being in possessing of fake documents. They also have provision for fine that could go either as complement of substitution for jail term.

Mr Sule said the former minister is equally liable for uttering – presenting fake document as genuine, which could, on conviction, could attract maximum jail term of 14 years, as provided for in Section 366 of the law.

Eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine, according to the section 13 of the NYSC law.

Section 13 (3) of the law also prescribes 3-year jail term or option of N5,000 fine for anyone who contravenes provision of the law, as Mrs Adeosun is alleged to have.

Subsection 4 of the same section also criminalises giving false information or illegally obtaining the Service’s certificate. It provides for up to three year jail term for such offenders.

The lawyer said a level playing field should be provided to bring the former minister to justice.

Civic groups have written to law enforcement agencies to demand for Mrs Adeosun;s investigation and prosecution.

Prior to her resignation, a Lagos-based Civil Society Organisation, HEDA Resource Centre, had written to the Inspector General of Police in July asking him probe the forgery allegations against the minister.

In August, the group the police authorities to the court asking for order compelling the police to investigate the scandal. The matter is yet to be heard.

Genesis

Mrs Adeosun graduated from the Polytechnic of East London in 1989, at the age of 22. By her curriculum vitae, Mrs Adeosun was born in March 1967.

The institution changed name to University of East London in 1992. Mrs Adeosun has her certificate issued in the new name.

By graduating at 22, it becomes obligatory for Mrs Adeosun to participate in the one-year national service, for her to qualify for any job in Nigeria.

However, at the time of her graduation, the young Folakemi Oguntomoju, as she then was, did not return to Nigeria to serve her fatherland.

Upon graduation in 1989, the young Applied Economics graduate pursued quick-paced career in British public and private financial sector.

She landed an immediate job at with British Telecom Company, but left after a year to join Goodman Jones, an accounting firm and investment firm, as audit officer. She served there until 1993.

In 1994, Mrs Adeosun joined London Underground Company as Internal Audit Manager, and switched to Prism Consulting, a finance firm, from 1996 until 2000.

In 2000, Mrs Adeosun got hired by reputable financial services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked for two years.

When she finally returned to the country in 2002, Mrs Adeosun worked with a private firm, Chapel Hill Denham, without evidence of national service.

However, for reasons that not clear, the finance minister purportedly obtained an exemption certificate dated September 9, 2009, just before she left Chapel Hill for another firm, Quo Vadis Partnerships and managing director. It is unclear of Mrs Adeosun owns, or is a director of the latter company, as she assumed duties directly as the managing director of the firm in 2010.

lllegally Gotten Jobs

On return to Nigeria, Mrs Adeosun served in four different positions, including her current post as the minister of finance. By the provision of Section 12 of the NYSC Act, employers must demand for the NYSC certificate of prospective employees. The law also mandates employees to present a genuine certificate for that purpose.

Section 12 of the Act reads:

“For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtained from any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:-

a. a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Decree

b. a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Decree c. such other particulars relevant there to as may be prescribed by or under this Decree.”

A legal practitioner, Sagir Gezawa, described jobs Mrs Adeosun has had in Nigeria as illegal.

“The combined effect of sections 12 and 13 of the NYSC Act is that it is illegal to hire a person who had graduated but without making himself or herself available to serve, or falsify any document o the

effect that he has served or exempted from serving”.

However, without demanding or verifying the veracity of the certificate brandished by Mrs Adeosun, two companies, the Ogun State government and the federal government employed her at various times.

Mr Amosun is believed to have used his well-known relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari to impress on him to pick Mrs Adeosun as his finance minister, following the ruling APC victory in 2015.

In November 2015, Mrs Adeosun was sworn in as minister by Mr Buhari, and assigned to the all-important finance ministry, after a supposed state security and National Assembly screening.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/283824-adeosun-risks-14-year-jail-term-for-skipping-nysc-forging-document.html

FTC I love that.

to the main issue now,i know she is covered with blood of buhari so nothing will happen to her.in a sane society she supposed to be under investigation now but since the broom is the insurance that covers her she is forgiven.

Interesting.....




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Even if they did prosecute her she wouldnt get 14 years. Those type of sentences are usually for serial forgers. Most of these only charges only have a max 3 year sentences and or fine. Best case scenario is 2 years sentence with fines. 5 years would be the max.

Front page: Lalasticlala

14yrs indeed!


Abeg make dem leave the woman joor!

Mtscheeew!!

By a government that have already said "forgery is not corruption" & have now been confirmed they did all they can but failed to find a way of padding this criminality? Fingers crossed.

Kemi Adesoun! Nigeria? Jail?




We all know that this is Impossible Happening Tense.

I also heard that one certain old man from daura also forged his waec certificate, how true is that?

Does anyone care to explain why Nigeria's vetting system is so bad. Her certificate passed through screening multiple entities without being detected. The Ogun state government didnt notice and federal government didnt notice.

In November 2015, Mrs Adeosun was sworn in as minister by Mr Buhari, and assigned to the all-important finance ministry, after a supposed state security and National Assembly screening.

However, without demanding or verifying the veracity of the certificate brandished by Mrs Adeosun, two companies, the Ogun State government and the federal government employed her at various times.

Even though this is the law, but remember Nigeria is an animal farm where some animals are more equal than others.


Nothing will happen to Kemi. Media will shout and the noise will die down.

Kai! They don come for her. May God protect us

Jail loading............? I I hear

Gbam

14 years kwa, politicians without certificate nko

Yes, I am in support that justice MUST be served in full. This is a case where Nigerians are clamouring for justice over a case of forgery; the same people whose majority chose to willingly vote out an erring Phd holder in favor of an old man with forged WAEC certificate. I have come to realise Nigerians are the embodiment of the pharisee spirit. We are eager to throw the first stone at whoever was found guilty of the very crime we practice. After all "na who dem catch be thief". But that is the human point of view. But God judges with a different standard, He sees the heart and judges the human intentions. And when He says the word JUSTICE it is absolute. Better to be convicted by man but vindicated by God. I hope Kemi's confession will lead to genuine repentance on her part. Even though the system may not pardon her, God will forgive and guide her as she bears the consequences of her deeds. BUT WOE UNTO THOSE PASSING JUDGEMENT ON HER WHILE GUILTY OF THE SAME CRIME.

fineboynl:
you are stupid. she forge certificate and turn our economy into playing field and where we find ourselves today. if proper investigated is further you will find out you will find out she forged British university certificate.

not only that proper investigation of all her dealings. money borrowed and money she releases. forensic investigation is needed

mod come and do your worki o

nnw

Which government will send her to jail?? this present one??

fineboynl:
you are stupid. she forge certificate and turn our economy into playing field and where we find ourselves today. if proper investigated is further you will find out you will find out she forged British university certificate.

not only that proper investigation of all her dealings. money borrowed and money she releases. forensic investigation is needed

Just make your points as well as she made hers no need for the insults please. Though I share your views.

Beremx:
14yrs indeed!


Abeg make dem leave the woman joor!

Mtscheeew!!

why 4 years ago you swore your support was all about fighting corruption.
You swore Buhari was the messiah am not surprised you are soft on action like your hero.
# byebuhari

What happened to the lady that forged PhD and MSC certificates during the Jonathan's regime again?

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/155059-jonathan-fired-stella-oduah-orubebe-two-others.HTML

I was informed she is now a senator representing somewhere

So people should just allow the sleeping dog lie

So how many years for Buhari for not having WAEC certificate.

I blamed her for the resignation, she should know that this is Nigeria, nobody is a saint, even the idiot that demand for her dismissal on this forums and other have a lots skeleton in their cupboard.

I think she doesn't have the heart, she should have completely ignor all the noise, he people that

Except you don't know how this country work. Those who are clamour for her head are political opposition, Tribalist & jobless Nigeria youth who think that because he/she has a Green paper at home, he/she is better than those who don't, with their empty brain.

Can someone tell me who this woman kill? Who is the victim of this accusation against her? Don't tell me useless Nigeria graduate.

Have they finished fight the President on the same certificate? NO

Does that now mean that the president has a certificate?

This woman fvck up big time, by listen to her enemy out there.

As if she would go to jail.... Nah 9ja we dey she ain't going to any jail

Very unfortunate..
Hmmm...

Abeg Pls make una mercy for this woman na person mama she b oooooooo, quitting her position as FM to me is enuf even so I no support what she did let's die this her case and focus on more important issues... Dalu kwa nu oo

I don’t support Apc/Pdp bt this is Utter Rubbish!


He resignation is good enough. She can go ahead Regularize papers

We all know this is impossible in Nigeria. Totally impossible