Adeosun’s certificate saga: NYSC gets SERAP’s 7-day ultimatum

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a Freedom of Information request to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Sule Kazaure, asking him to “urgently provide information on specific details and documents on the Exemption Certificate granted to the Minister of Finance, Mrs.
Kemi Adeosun.” The organisation also asked Kazaure “to provide information and documents on whether Mrs.
Adeosun applied for NYSC Exemption Certificate, and if she did, to clarify whether the NYSC actually granted her the Exemption Certificate, the circumstances and the provisions of the NYSC Act under which the Exemption Certificate was granted.” The organisation said it “needs the information to determine if the crime of forgery has been committed, and if so, to consider possible action in the circumstances, including but not limited to asking the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN, to pursue prosecution or in the absence of that for us to consider the option of a private prosecution.” Its statement signed by Timothy Adewale, deputy director and released yesterday read in part: It read in part: “In the FOI request dated August 2, 2018, and signed by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale, the organisation said: By providing information and documents on the Exemption Certificate, the NYSC would help put an end to any insinuation of complicity and show that the institution can embrace transparency and accountability in the discharge of its statutory mandates.
This would in turn contribute to improved integrity and public image of the NYSC.” “Mrs.
Adeosun remains innocent until the allegations against her are properly tested and proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of competent jurisdiction based on relevant admissible evidence.
But the continuing silence by the NYSC management on the matter may create an impression that an offence may have been committed, and lead to accusation that the management has something to hide.” Continuing, it read: “We urge you and the entire NYSC management and leadership to open-up on the matter and provide information and documents as requested.
This will be one step in the right direction.
If the information is not provided to us within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.” (Premium Times)

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