Kemi Adeosun says she cried non-stop for three months after being betrayed over NYSC certificate

FORMER finance minister Kemi Adeosun has revealed that she wept every day without working for three months after she was hounded out of office by political opponents who revealed that her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate was a forgery.

In August 2018, national daily Premium Times, revealed that Ms Adeosun, an economist and chartered accountant, forged an NYSC exemption certificate to enable her serve in government. According to the report, Ms Adeosun’s certificate was dated September 9, 2009 and was signed by Yusuf Bomoi, a former NYSC director-general who passed away in September 2017 but he had stepped down eight months earlier in January 2009, so could not have signed it.

After weeks of silence, Ms Adeosun eventually spoke on the matter, saying she did not know that the exemption certificate was forged, pointing out that she got the it through a third party and was unaware of the fact that it was not genuine. However, the pressure had mounted on Ms Adeosun and it she has finally did the honourable thing and bowed out of office, returning to the UK where she grew up.

Speaking about her ordeal yesterday, Ms Adeosun, who spoke at the 10th anniversary of the Uncommon Woman Conference organised by the Jesus House Church, London explained that she felt like she was in a horrible pit. According to her, everything about her life was at a standstill while she had to deal with shame, betrayal, disappointment and humiliation.

Ms Adeosun said:“That period of life was tough for me as I went to step into the shoes of someone like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. So, I was under fire from day one, it looked like things were not working and then all of a sudden, the economy started to improve.

"It was like I was beginning to see the desired result. Then out of nowhere, the certificate scandal came and before I knew it, everything turned upside down and that was how the issue went viral.”

She added that  it was sad that she was even unable to tell her side of the story and had to resign when she could no longer bear it. According to the former finance minister, she remained virtually incapacitated for three months as she reeled from the betrayal.

Ms Adeosun stressed:  “I was born and raised in the United Kingdom and indeed, my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of 34 were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport.

"When I finished school, there was no opportunity for dual citizenship as I either had to renounce my British citizenship or hold on to it and work here. I didn’t renounce mine and I finished school at 21 and started working at 22.

“I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of 34 and when I relocated, there was a debate as to whether the NYSC law applied to me.  Upon enquiry as to my status relating to the NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of 30, I was exempted from the requirement to serve and 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, the NYSC was approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question and having never worked in the NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to or familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.

“Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for the Department of State Services clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. I sought legal advice and there was no problem about mu exemption for the NYSC.

“I was so ashamed at that time because I was into teenagers’ mentoring and all of that, so the experience negated the lessons I had taught my teenagers.  I cried every day for three months and I didn’t do anything for anyone or myself for those months. I just cried, cried, and cried.

"I thought I would feel better when I got vindicated by the court but I still wasn’t happy.  The court cleared my name three years later but it took another time of counselling and therapy before I felt better. It was thereafter I forged ahead with life and started my charity work.”