A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared that the former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, was ineligible for national service.
The court held that she was not supposed to present herself for National Youth Service under the 1979 Constitution, which was in force as at the time of her graduation, neither is she a Nigerian citizen nor attained age thirty when she graduated.
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In the suit filed by Wole Olanipekun, SAN on behalf of Adeosun, the court said since the 1979 constitution, which was in force at the time did not recognise dual citizenship, Adeosun could not have served because she was a British citizen who graduated from the University of East London in 1989 at the age of 22.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo who gave the ruling on Wednesday said the constitution does not require her to present her first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a minister.
Therefore the ministerial appointment of Adeosun was not illegal, neither was it unconstitutional, even without presenting the NYSC certificate.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
