The Presidency on Monday said it would not take any immediate action against Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, who is facing a certificate forgery scandal, until the court delivers its verdict.
The clarification came from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who told journalists that “this matter is already in court. We should await the verdict of the court.”
The controversy deepened last week when the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate allegedly submitted by the minister.
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the institution confirmed that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, he never completed the programme.
“From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study.
“Following the above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and, consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate in July 1985 to Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji,” the letter stated.
The school added that this position was consistent with an earlier letter sent to the Public Complaints Commission on May 13, 2025.
In his filing before the Federal High Court, Nnaji admitted that he had not yet collected his degree certificate, blaming the delay on what he called the university’s “non-cooperative attitude.”
The minister, however, insists he graduated in 1985, citing a previous letter from the university in December 2023 that had affirmed his graduation.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and opposition politicians have continued to demand that Nnaji step aside pending the conclusion of the case.
Critics argue that his continued stay in office undermines public trust in the government’s anti-corruption stance.
Despite the pressure, the Presidency insists it would not be drawn into the controversy.
Onanuga maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will respect the judicial process and allow the courts to determine Nnaji’s fate before taking any action.
Fiery Activist Effiong Speaks
Reacting, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Nnaji over the allegations of certificate forgery.
Effiong, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, described the allegations as grave and expressed surprise that such irregularities escaped scrutiny during Nnaji’s screening before appointment.
He said the inconsistencies in Nnaji’s academic records and the conflicting statements from UNN required urgent attention.
The human rights activist added that Nnaji should surrender himself to the police for investigation.
“How did all these things escape the scrutiny of the Nigerian State Security Service? As I speak to you, the State Security Service has maintained a conspiratorial silence. It is a conspiracy. This minister must be immediately suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation. He has to surrender himself to the police for investigation for forgery; otherwise, they will be telling Nigerians that we are running a government of certificate forgers and criminality,” Effiong said.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it is not surprised that President Bola Tinubu has retained Uche Nnaji in the Federal Government.
This comes after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC disowned the certificates he presented for his appointment.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the ADC described the Tinubu government’s silence as proof of its tolerance for corruption of all kinds.
The party described it as a great disservice to the country, saying Nigeria has many qualified citizens of competence and integrity who could better lead a ministry meant to drive innovation.
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