FG Probe Panel Indicts Former Minister Nnaji Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

A seven-member investigative panel set up by Nigeria’s Minister of Education has confirmed that the immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, forged his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

The panel, constituted by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, was inaugurated on November 23, 2025, following a petition submitted by Nnaji after investigative reports questioned the authenticity of his academic credentials.

According to Premium Times, the committee submitted its report to the minister in December 2025.

In his petition dated October 14, 2025, Nnaji accused senior officials of UNN of unethical conduct and tampering with his academic records.

He alleged that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, and former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, issued forged or unauthorised correspondence and improperly accessed his academic file.

The former minister also claimed the officials facilitated media reports that misrepresented his academic history.

The investigative panel was chaired by Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, Director of the University Education Department at the Federal Ministry of Education, while James Ocheido, Deputy Director of the department, served as secretary.

Other members included officials from the ministry’s polytechnics and colleges of education departments, as well as a representative of the National Universities Commission.

According to the report, the panel adopted documentary review, interviews, verification and technical audit as its methodology.

Members of the committee visited the UNN campus in Nsukka and held meetings with key university officials, including the vice-chancellor, registrar, records unit staff and other personnel responsible for managing academic records.

Investigators said they conducted a detailed review of UNN’s Senate-approved graduation list for 1985 and examined Nnaji’s personal academic file.

The panel found that his name did not appear on the 1985 graduation list, contrary to claims that he graduated from the institution that year.

The report also revealed several correspondences between Nnaji and the university’s Registry Department between November 1985 and May 1986, relating to a failed course identified as MCB 431 – Virology.

According to the panel, the former minister wrote a handwritten letter dated May 19, 1986, applying for permission to retake the course after missing the examination due to ill health.

However, the panel said it found no record showing that Nnaji later retook or passed the course.

“The panel was unable to find any record of him having taken the failed course,” the report stated.

Investigators also questioned how Nnaji obtained a certificate purportedly issued in July 1985, which he submitted to Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his ministerial appointment and to the Senate during his confirmation process.

The panel’s conclusions aligned with earlier investigative reports which indicated that although Nnaji was admitted to study Biological Sciences at UNN during the 1981/1982 academic session, he did not graduate.

Separate verification by the National Youth Service Corps reportedly showed that the discharge certificate presented by the former minister was not issued by the scheme.

The scandal eventually forced Nnaji to resign from office three days after the investigation exposing the alleged forgery was published.

Following the revelations, several Nigerians called for his prosecution over the alleged certificate forgery.

A legal practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, criticised the government for failing to prosecute the former minister, insisting that such cases should be pursued to deter similar offences.

He argued that individuals involved in certificate forgery should face prosecution and be barred from holding public office.

Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly opened an investigation into the matter.

Sources familiar with the probe said Nnaji could face prosecution if investigators confirm that the credentials he submitted were indeed forged.

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