Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is facing mounting pressure to resign following allegations of certificate forgery involving his purported degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Two prominent civil society organisations the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) have demanded the minister’s immediate resignation and a public apology, describing the scandal as a test of integrity for the federal government.
‘Leaders Must Lead by Example’
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said the minister’s continued stay in office undermines public trust.
He stated, “Politicians do not need to acquire degrees by hook or by crook. The constitution only requires a school certificate to hold public office. But if you lie about your qualifications and it becomes public, the honourable thing to do is resign and apologise to the nation.”
Rafsanjani added that the minister’s reluctance to resign was likely due to his proximity to the presidency. “The president cannot sit and watch individuals who promote deception and manipulation remain in his cabinet. Leadership must be built on truth, not fraud,” he said.
The activist also noted that several other public officials currently face integrity questions ranging from corruption allegations to falsified credentials. “If you want citizens to respect and follow you, you cannot have people with damaged reputations in government,” he warned.
Calls for Suspension and Investigation
Echoing the CSOs’ position, Professor Ademola Adaranijo, a constitutional law expert, called on the federal government to suspend Minister Nnaji pending the outcome of a transparent investigation.
According to him, “Suspending the minister will demonstrate that the government has zero tolerance for fraud. It is also essential to conduct a comprehensive audit of the academic and professional credentials of all public office holders to prevent a recurrence.”
Similarly, Lagos-based lawyer Wahab Abdullahi described certificate forgery as a criminal offence punishable under Sections 366 and 368 of the Criminal Code Act, carrying a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment.
Abdullahi said, “If these allegations are proven true, it goes beyond an administrative issue it’s a criminal act. It also violates the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, both of which prohibit false declarations for undue advantage.”
The Director of the Public and Private Anti-Corruption Coalition (PPAC), Idowu Phillips, also urged the government not to sweep the matter under the carpet. “Certificate forgery erodes institutional integrity and public trust. The fight against corruption must remain relentless and consistent,” he said.
UNN Disowns Nnaji’s Certificate
Documents obtained by Premium Times show that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka has formally disowned the minister’s alleged certificate, stating that there is no record of his completion of studies.
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, signed by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, the institution stated:
“We can confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981. However, from every available record, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is unable to confirm that he graduated in July 1985. Consequently, the University DID NOT and COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate.”
The letter reaffirmed an earlier position the university communicated to the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025, clarifying that no valid degree was ever conferred on Nnaji.
Court Dismisses Minister’s Bid to Block UNN Records
Meanwhile, fresh court documents reveal that the minister had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain the university from releasing his academic records.
Nnaji had filed a motion through his lawyers against the Minister of Education, National Universities Commission, University of Nigeria, and several university officials, asking for an injunction to prevent any tampering or disclosure of his academic file.
However, Justice Hausa Yilwa dismissed the injunction request, granting only procedural reliefs that allowed the minister to pursue access to his transcript but refused to block the release of records.
Court filings further show that Nnaji admitted in his affidavit that he was “yet to collect” his certificate, contradicting his earlier submission to the Senate in August 2023, where he claimed to hold a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry from UNN.
Minister Denies Allegations, Blames Political Enemies
In response, the minister, through his Special Adviser, Dr Robert Ngwu, dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated.”
He accused the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, of orchestrating the controversy to discredit him ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that the governor influenced the university’s Vice-Chancellor to tamper with his records.
Dr Ngwu said, “This is a calculated attempt to tarnish the minister’s image because he poses a political threat in Enugu State.”
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs Pauline Sule, also described the reports as “fake news.”
“We are working on it and will soon address the press,” she said.
APC Yet to Comment
As of press time, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party under which Nnaji serves, had not commented on the controversy. Efforts to reach the party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, were unsuccessful.
The case is expected to come up for hearing again at the Federal High Court, Abuja, today, October 6, 2025.
Analysts: Integrity Test for the Government
Political analysts say the case poses a significant integrity test for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has repeatedly pledged to uphold transparency and accountability in public office.
“If the government handles this matter lightly,” one analyst said, “it will reinforce the perception that anti-corruption rhetoric in Nigeria applies only to political opponents not to allies in power.”
