A Federal High Court, Abuja has ruled that former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun was ineligible to undergo mandatory one-year national service, hence her appointment was not illegal.
A Federal High Court, Abuja has ruled that former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun was ineligible to undergo mandatory one-year national service, hence her appointment was not illegal.
A ruling by Justice Taiwo Taiwo maintained that Adesosun was not obliged to present herself for the National Youth Service (NYSC) mobilisation under the prevailing 1979 Constitution, as she was not a Nigerian citizen either at the time of her graduation or when she turned 30 years.
In its ruling on a suit for constitutional interpretation filed in March 2021 by the firm of Chief 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.
The judge also noted that the Attorney General of the Federation, in his counter-affidavit, stated that the Federal Government did not withdraw the ministerial appointment of the plaintiff or ask her to resign, but that Adeosun resigned by her own will.
