The growing scandal over the academic credentials of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has entered a new phase after Premium Times published details of how it uncovered what it says are forged certificates. The revelations have triggered sharp exchanges, denials, and calls for accountability across the media, political, and legal spheres. …
Nnaji’s Certificate ‘Fraud’, Separating Fact from Allegation
The growing scandal over the academic credentials of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has entered a new phase after Premium Times published details of how it uncovered what it says are forged certificates. The revelations have triggered sharp exchanges, denials, and calls for accountability across the media, political, and legal spheres.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Premium Times’ Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer, Musikilu Mojeed, explained in an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” that the probe began after an anonymous whistleblower flagged possible irregularities in Nnaji’s academic record.
READ ALSO: My Resignation Not an Admission of Guilt – Nnaji
“A whistleblower … was confident that if we did a diligent investigation, we would uncover something shocking. And we took up the challenge, and then we started working on it. In 2023, we started working on it,” Mojeed said.
From that point, the news team deployed reporters to Abuja and Enugu, submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the NYSC, and scrutinised relevant documents and correspondence.
Mojeed noted that the initial FOI request to UNN, submitted 1 February 2024, was ignored, which he attributed to the efforts of influential interests aiming to block the investigation. To break the logjam, Premium Times later sent separate FOI letters to the vice-chancellor and the registrar of UNN, couriered independently. The vice-chancellor responded first, and days later the registrar affirmed the same position.
The letters from UNN now state that while Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981, there is no record that he completed his studies, and no degree certificate was issued to him.
Parallel to that, Premium Times’ investigation claimed that Nnaji’s NYSC discharge certificate was also forged.
What Premium Times Alleges
According to Premium Times, its multi-year investigation discovered what it describes as “damning and conclusive” evidence that both the degree certificate and NYSC discharge document in Nnaji’s possession are forgeries.
READ ALSO: Nnaji Forgery Scandal: Atiku Demands Probe into Tinubu, Ministers’ Certificates
Among the evidence cited:
UNN’s own records do not list Nnaji among its graduates in any session corresponding to his claimed graduation date.
The university stated explicitly that there is no indication that the certificate in his name was ever issued.
Premium Times also presented documentary evidence suggesting that, at the time Nnaji purportedly graduated and took part in NYSC, he was still in correspondence with UNN over how to re-sit a failed terminal course.
Those findings, the newspaper says, triggered public outrage and intensified pressure.
Responses and Denials Posture
Uche Nnaji, in a statement released on the night of his resignation, denied wrongdoing and framed his decision to step aside as a matter of principle and respect for due process. He insisted his resignation did not amount to an admission of guilt and that “justice will prevail”. He further characterised the controversy as politically motivated and a deliberate campaign to tarnish his reputation.
Nnaji also filed a lawsuit seeking to block UNN and other bodies from releasing his academic records to media organisations, including Premium Times.
READ ALSO: Certificate Forgery: Minister Boycotts Press Conference, Calls Out Mbah, UNN
His spokesman, Robert Ngwu, went on a media defensive, alleging that Premium Times received ₦100 million from the Enugu State Government as a bribe to publish the exposé.
Mojeed strongly rejected the bribery claim, saying the newspaper had built its reputation over nearly 15 years and would not allow itself to be maligned. He further announced that the newspaper’s lawyers are preparing to hold Ngwu accountable, demanding proof of his allegations in court.
Premium Times also confirmed its intention to sue Ngwu for defamation over the false bribery accusation.
Fallout and Public Reaction
The scandal has sparked public outrage, with citizens, commentators, and opposition figures calling for accountability. Some voices demand that Nnaji be prosecuted and banned from public office if found guilty of forgery.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi criticised the handling of certificate verification in Nigeria, urging stricter pre-appointment checks on officials.
President Bola Tinubu accepted Nnaji’s resignation in a statement issued by his media office, acknowledging his service while distancing the presidency from the controversy.
What Remains to Be Proven
At present, the case is still very cloudy on several core questions:
1. Can UNN and NYSC’s statements survive legal scrutiny? The university’s recent letters stating that Nnaji was never issued a degree certificate are central to Premium Times’ case.
READ ALSO: Innovation minister Nnaji resigns amid allegations
2. Will the courts rule on the defamation claims? Premium Times’ legal push against Ngwu could clarify whether the bribery allegation has any factual basis.
3. Will Nnaji’s lawsuit to restrain the release of records succeed? If the court blocks release of his academic files, public confidence could erode.
4. Will criminal or administrative proceedings follow? Forgery of public documents is a punishable offence under Nigerian law; whether authorities will act remains to be seen.
If the Premium Times findings hold up in court, it will pose serious implications for governance, public trust, and accountability in Nigeria. On one side is an investigative media organisation asserting it has exposed a major abuse of public trust; on the other, a former minister insisting on his innocence and framing his exit as principled.
Expected legal rulings, further documentary evidence, and possible criminal investigations will determine whether this becomes a landmark case in the struggle for truth and integrity in public office.
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