By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
A pro- democracy organisation, Democracy And Public Interest Initiative, has called for the immediate prosecution of former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, over the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, exemption letter she presented to Senate for screening.
Adeosun resigned as finance minister about three years ago following allegation that she did not observe the mandatory NYSC programme in the country.
However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of a Federal High Court, last week, held that at the time of her graduation, the NYSC programmed was a a precondition to be appointed into political office.
Reacting, the group, through it legal officer, Abdullahi Ahmad Esq., faulted the judgement of the court.
He said, ‘’We have received, read and digested the judgement of the Federal High Court siting in Abuja per Taiwo J delivered on the 7th of June 2021 between FolaKemi Adeosu v. Attorney General of the Federation, and what it potends for the survival and strengthening of democracy in Nigeria.
‘’Whilst we concede that the issues raised at the trial of the matter under review were narrow and called the Honorable court to interprete various provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the National Youth Service Act.’’
The group raised a number of issue which the court should have looked into which include how the former minster got the NYSC certificated she presented to the senate during screening.
This judgement of the court while rightly on the issues before it, played the Ostrich and did not address the issue of the crime, thereby hiding it from the public view.
‘’Consequently, we by this notice urge the Police to immediately and within two days proceed with the prosecution of the former Minister of Finance, the investigation haven been completed. Failure to do so we will be compelled to approach the court with a prerogative writ of mandamus praying it inter Alia to compel the police and the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute her for the alleged offence.’’
