Uche Nnaji, the minister of science and technology, has finally admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never gave him a degree certificate confirming earlier reports that he might have forged his academic credentials.
This revelation supports findings from a two-year investigation which had exposed that the documents Nnaji presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial screening were fake, Premium Times reported.
The controversy over his certificate began in July 2023 when President Tinubu included Nnaji among the first batch of ministerial nominees. Soon after the announcement, critics questioned the authenticity of his academic and NYSC certificates, claiming he never completed his university education.
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The investigation concluded that both the bachelor’s degree and NYSC discharge certificate submitted by the minister were forgeries. Until recently, Nnaji had not publicly responded to the allegations. But new court documents have now revealed his side and his own statements confirm that he never received a certificate from UNN.
The admission surfaced in a case Nnaji filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, before Justice Hauwa Yilwa. In the suit, he sued the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, its Registrar, Professor Oguenjiofor Ujam (a former Acting Vice-Chancellor), and the university’s Senate.
Through a motion ex parte, the minister asked the court to stop the university and its officials from “tampering with” or releasing any details about his academic records. He also asked the court to compel the institution to release his academic transcript and to direct the Minister of Education and the NUC to make UNN comply.
In addition, he sought an interim injunction restraining UNN from altering or releasing any information about him until the case was decided.
Justice Yilwa, in her ruling on September 22, granted three of the minister’s requests but refused to issue an injunction stopping the university from acting. The matter was adjourned to October 6 for further hearing.
Sources familiar with the case said that Nnaji’s legal action was an attempt to block the university from releasing details of his academic records to journalists or investigators. He was also said to be pushing to obtain his transcript to “refresh his memory” about where he may have stopped during his university days.
What has drawn the most attention, however, is what the minister himself revealed in his sworn affidavit. In paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34 paragraph statement. Nnaji made a surprising confession that appears to confirm he never collected a certificate from the university.
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In paragraph 12, he said he was admitted to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1981 and that he completed the programme in 1985. But in the following paragraph, he stated that he had not been issued a certificate, blaming “the non-cooperative attitude” of UNN officials for his inability to collect it.
He cited a letter issued by the university in December 2023 to People’s Gazette, confirming that he was indeed a student who “graduated” in 1985 with a Second Class (Lower Division) degree. However, this letter did not include or represent an actual certificate and his court filing indirectly confirmed that he does not possess one.
By admitting that the university never issued him a certificate, Nnaji has, in essence, validated the claims of forgery earlier made against him.
Since his nomination in 2023, Nnaji has faced persistent questions about his academic record. Critics argued that his credentials were fabricated and that his NYSC certificate was also fake. The allegations gained weight after BusinessDay published documents showing discrepancies between his claimed qualifications and university records.
The publication’s two-year investigation reportedly involved interviews with university officials, checks of student records, and verification from the NYSC. Their findings were described as “damning and conclusive,” asserting that the minister’s documents were entirely fake.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the Senate confirmed his nomination, and he went on to assume office as Minister of Science and Technology under President Tinubu’s administration.
The latest court admission has now reopened the controversy, sparking fresh debates about how background checks are conducted for public officials and why questions of integrity are often overlooked.
The revelation has triggered shock and outrage among Nigerians. Civil society groups have begun calling for his immediate suspension and investigation. Some critics argue that his continued stay in office undermines the government’s credibility, especially in a ministry that deals with research, innovation, and academic advancement.
Opposition politicians have also seized on the matter, accusing the Tinubu administration of turning a blind eye to corruption and dishonesty in public service. “How can someone who forged his certificate be in charge of science and technology?” one opposition lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, legal experts say that Mr. Nnaji’s admission could expose him to prosecution under Nigerian law, which criminalizes document forgery and the submission of false information for public appointments.
As the court case continues, attention is focused on whether UNN will be compelled to release more details of the minister’s academic history and whether those details will match his earlier claims.
The Federal High Court is expected to continue hearing the matter in the coming days, and the outcome could have serious implications not only for Mr. Nnaji but also for the credibility of the government’s vetting process for public officeholders.
