Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has said that although the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, applied for an Exemption Certificate, it would still investigate the origin of the one in question.

Adeosun has been linked with forging an NYSC exemption certificate.

She graduated from the Polytechnic of East London, in the United Kingdom, in 1989, at 22.

In a statement signed by NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adeyemi Adenike, yesterday, the service did not confirm when the minister applied for the exemption certificate.

Said Mrs. Adeyemi: “Checking our records, Mrs. Adeosun did apply for an Exemption Certificate. We shall investigate the origin of the purported Exemption Certificate in question.”

Section 13 of the NYSC Act stipulates that defaulters are liable to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine while section 13 (3) of the law also prescribes three-year jail term or option of N5,000 fine for anyone who contravenes provision of the law.

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

Last week, Premium Times reported that the minister did not observe the complsory one year NYSC, even though she graduated from a London Polytechnic, at 22, in 1989.

An exemption certificate in her name, which she allegedly used for security clearance, for confirmation as minister, in 2015, was reportedly obtained in 1990.