BANYO TEMITAYO
A Federal High Court in Abuja has cleared the air on a National Youth Service controversy, which led to the resignation of former Finance Minister, Kemi Adosun, saying the NYSC certificate is not a prerequisite for appointment as a Minister in Nigeria.
The court in a judgement on Wednesday, ruled that the former Minister was not qualified to have participated in the NYSC scheme when she graduated at the age of 22 years, noting also that, at that time, she was a British citizen.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo also held that when Adeosun returned to Nigeria, formally, and became a Nigerian citizen, she was over 30 years old and not eligible to present herself for the Youth Service.
The court maintained this position just as it held that the plaintiff or any other person did not require NYSC discharge certificate to contest election to the House of Representatives or be appointed a Minister.
The judgment was given on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021, filed by Kemi Adeosun, with the Attorney General of the Federation as the sole defendant.
The judge, thereby, granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.
She sought “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.”
Details later.
