Esther Imonmion
Pressure is mounting on President Bola Tinubu to dismiss his Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, following renewed allegations that he presented forged academic and NYSC certificates during his Senate screening in 2023.
The controversy deepened after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in a letter dated October 2, 2025, declared that though Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there is no record that he completed his degree or was issued a certificate. The development contradicts an earlier confirmation letter from the university’s registrar dated December 21, 2023, which stated that Nnaji graduated in July 1985 with a Second Class (Lower Division) in Microbiology/Biochemistry.
Nnaji, however, insists that he is a bona fide alumnus of the university, dismissing the allegations as “politically motivated and malicious.” He accused Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah of sponsoring what he described as a smear campaign ahead of the 2027 elections — an accusation the Enugu government has denied, urging the minister to clear his name through due process.
The minister has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja (FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025) against UNN, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other parties, seeking an order to restrain any tampering with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript. The court granted some interim protective orders but declined other reliefs, adjourning further hearing to November 10, 2025.
Meanwhile, fresh investigations by independent media have raised new questions about Nnaji’s credentials. The NYSC certificate he presented reportedly bears the signature of a corps official who only assumed office years after the purported issuance date. Additionally, the certificate indicates that Nnaji began his service in April 1985—three months before his alleged graduation, a sequence described by legal experts as “procedurally impossible.”
Civil society and political groups have joined the growing calls for Nnaji’s resignation. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) accused President Tinubu of “complicity through silence,” saying his failure to act undermines public confidence in the administration’s anti-corruption stance.
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Committee urged the president to suspend the minister pending the outcome of the court case, stressing that integrity is non-negotiable for public officers. Senior lawyers, including Seyi Sowemimo (SAN) and Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN), have called for an independent investigation.
In a statement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) demanded Nnaji’s immediate dismissal, saying Tinubu’s inaction reflects poorly on his government’s moral credibility. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also weighed in, warning that “certificate forgery at the highest level of government sends a dangerous message to Nigerian youth.”
Despite the mounting outrage, the presidency has maintained that it will await the court’s decision before taking any action. “The president believes in the rule of law and will act based on the outcome of the judicial process,” a senior presidential aide told reporters on Monday.
With the matter now before the court, attention is shifting to how the Tinubu administration will balance due process with growing public pressure for accountability.