ABUJA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun on Friday resigned from the federal cabinet amid a certificate forgery controversy in which she is enmeshed.
Adeosun expressed shock over the allegation against her, citing the government's focus on integrity as the cause of her action.
"I must do the honorable thing and resign," she wrote in her resignation letter made available to the media.
An official statement confirmed that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari accepted Adeosun's resignation earlier on Friday.
"The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits," said the statement.
Buhari immediately announced Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of State (for) Budget and National Planning, as the replacement for the former minister with effect from Friday.
In July, a local newspaper had alleged she illegally obtained an exemption certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), having failed to participate in the scheme as of when due.
The NYSC scheme is a national program mandatory for all college graduates to qualify for gainful employment in Nigeria.
Appointed in November 2015, Adeosun was regarded as one of the good hands in President Buhari's cabinet.
She was elected chairperson of the board of African Export-Import Bank amid the certificate forgery controversy in July.
