ITSE Sagay, the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has opined why President Muhammadu Buhari should not sack his Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, over certificate forgery hanging on her neck.

The Buhari-led administration who claims the fight against corruption was without political affiliation and partisan has refused to act on the alleged forgery involving Mrs Adeosun who is said to have forged her exception certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

An online publication which published the story not only reported that the finance minister forged the document, she is also reported to have graduated at the age of 22, skipping the one year mandatory programme by the NYSC for all graduands below the age of 30.

In addition to being a requirement for government and private sector jobs in Nigeria, the enabling law prescribes punishment for anyone who absconds from the scheme or forges its certificates.

Eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine, according to Section 13 of the NYSC law.



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 as Mrs Adeosun was alleged to have done.

Speaking during the workshop on the United Kingdom Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), organised by PACAC, UK National Crime Agency and the Department for International Development (DfID) on Thursday, Sagay said the minister should not be shown the exit door because of her performance in office.

“…This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government,” the PACAC chairman said.

“A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.

“There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.



“I’m telling you now. If you ask me – If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because she’s damn good.

“The enemies of this government want to reduce his capacity to provide good governance by engaging in social media attacks and trying to get rid of her. It will not work,” he said.

Sagay also condemned the freezing of bank accounts belong to state government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

The bank accounts of two state governments, Benue and Akwa Ibom, were recently frozen by the EFCC. While Benue noted that the restriction on its own accounts have been fully lifted, those placed on accounts belonging to Akwa Ibom were partially removed. The two states are governed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

He said although the anti-graft agency has the right to probe state governors, it does not have the right to arrest them as they are under the cover of immunity while they are still in office.

"The Buhari-led administration who claims the fight against corruption was without political affiliation and partisan has refused to act on the alleged forgery involving Mrs Adeosun who is said to have forged her exception certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme......

Sagay said the minister should not be shown the exit door because of her performance in office."This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government,” the PACAC chairman said.

“A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.

“There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.

“I’m telling you now. If you ask me – If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because she’s damn good.“The enemies of this government want to reduce his capacity to provide good governance by engaging in social media attacks and trying to get rid of her. It will not work,” he said.

Sagay is simply a disgrace.And this man is the government's Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman
Any wonder the all-corruption encaste APC government have been losing high profile antigraft cases? This means Obono-Obla WAEC certificate scandal too will never be investigated.

“…This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government,” the PACAC chairman said.

“A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.

“There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.

This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government,” the PACAC chairman said.
“A lot of the good things happening now – the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession – are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice.
“There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman.

Racoon:


Sagay is simply a disgrace.

seunmsg:


Endorsed.

Racoon:


Sagay is simply a disgrace.And this man is the government's Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman
Any wonder the all-corruption encaste APC government have been losing high profile antigraft cases? This means Obono-Obla WAEC certificate scandal too will never be investigated.

How on earth can a so called constitutional lawyer of Prof.Sagay's calibre say this for God's sake & even before international agencies?
This is how political appointment can reduce once reasonable & highly esteemed people to sorry humanity.
Turning the law & logic upside down.

Tambuwal can defect & held to the speakership title in 2014 but Saraki cant do so in the senate in 2018?
Kemi Adeosun should not resign based on your warped logic but Saraki should resign based on honour.
Hypocrisy is a very nauseating way of life.Sagay you are & will forever remain a disgrace.Too bad! So sad!

buhariguy:
nysc is not compulsory, so is not a crime if you failed to present it.
And that cannot disqualified her .

But if forged, she should pay a fine of 5000 naira only.

sirequity:


Nairaland judge weldone.

Since you've delivered judgement on Adeosun's case, Oya let's hear your judgement on calls for Saraki's resignation.

buhariguy:
nysc is not compulsory, so is not a crime if you failed to present it.
And that cannot disqualified her.But if forged, she should pay a fine of 5000 naira only.

buhariguy:
thief saraki can not preside over majority,
that has be the standard rule or the golden rule.

sirequity:


Standard of which golden rule, quote the section of the constitution which supports your claim.

buhariguy:
standard or golden law or rules is like common law, it is universal,
Can thief saraki tried this in American or in England?

Is not necessarily to be in constitution, but is a golden rule or law governing the world.