₦airaland Forum

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate.

This statement is in line with the report of a two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES which revealed that the UNN did not issue him the credentials he submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation.

Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023 when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the president’s initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on May 29, 2023.

Critics had alleged that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to President Tinubu as well as to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the State Security Service (SSS) and the Senate were forged.

Mr Nnaji has now addressed the allegations for the first time, and, in doing so, confirmed that UNN never issued him any certificate.


Admission in court filings

The minister’s admission is contained in court filings in a case he instituted against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a professor, its Registrar, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguenjiofor Ujam, a professor and the Senate of the University.


In the suit before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Mr Nnaji sought, through a motion ex parte, an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting UNN and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records.

He also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him, and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.

Additionally, Mr Nnaji requested an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In her ruling of 22 September, Justice Yilwa granted three of the prayers sought but declined to issue any injunctive order against the defendants. The case was then adjourned to 6 October (Monday) for further hearing.

University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)

Those familiar with the matter said Mr Nnaji initiated the case to block the university from releasing details of his academic sojourn in the institution to anyone, including PREMIUM TIMES. He is also said to desire a transcript to refresh his memory regarding where he dropped out of university.


However, in paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, Mr Nnaji made a stunning revelation, accusing UNN officials of refusing to issue him a certificate and, in the process, confirming that he never collected one.

In paragraph 12, he stated that the university admitted him in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, and that he completed the programme and “graduated” in 1985.

But paragraph 13 contained the explosive admission:

“That even though I am yet to collect my certificate from the 3rd Defendant (UNN), due largely to the non-cooperative attitude of the 3rd–5th Defendants (UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar), the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe) which stated amongst other things as follows:

‘This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.’”

The letter, signed by UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum, was sent to the People’s Gazette in response to an enquiry. But its contents have since been invalidated.

Mrs Nnebedum later recanted in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025, stating that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Mr Nnaji’s name.


Similarly, UNN Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya confirmed in a letter dated 3 October 2025 and addressed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.

A senior university official told PREMIUM TIMES that the institution investigated Mrs Nnebedum’s letter and concluded that: “It is either some people in the records office were influenced or manipulated to cover up for Nnaji, or it was a sincere mistake by the registry.”

The official added: “The truth of the matter is that he (Mr Nnaji) never graduated from here. His file is intact. It contains details up to the point where he dropped out.”

Minister keeps silent

Despite multiple efforts to obtain his comments, Mr Nnaji declined to speak directly to PREMIUM TIMES on the matter.

He ignored a detailed written enquiry sent by this newspaper on 8 January 2024, which his office formally acknowledged and stamped as “received” on 18 January 2024 at 1 p.m.

He also refused to answer or return repeated follow-up calls, messages, and emails seeking his response to our findings.


Nnaji’s confession

His admission that the UNN never issued him a degree certificate raises crucial questions: If the UNN did not issue him a certificate, where and how did he obtain the degree document he submitted to Nigerian authorities? And if he never earned a degree, how did he qualify for the NYSC programme?

Ahead of his ministerial screening on August 1, 2023, Mr Nnaji submitted at least 109 copies of a 10-page profile document to the Senate Clerk’s office for distribution to all senators.

The first page featured his smiling photograph, describing him as “a visionary industrialist, oil and gas expert, construction giant, healthcare practitioner, pro-democracy activist, trade and investment strategist, and environmental protection expert.”

The next three pages detailed his personal data, including contact information, birth, origin, marital status, religion, education, work and business experience and political achievements.

On page three, he claimed to have earned a combined degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from UNN, though he failed to provide a graduation year.

For his NYSC service, he claimed he worked as a laboratory supervisor at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in 1985 and later as an assistant quality control manager at Jos International Breweries Limited in 1986.

The remaining six pages — stapled to the main document — contained copies of his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate, statutory declaration of age, Code of Conduct Bureau asset declaration slip, tax clearance certificate for 2022, his supposed UNN Bachelor of Science degree, and his purported NYSC Certificate of National Service.

Now that Mr Nnaji has admitted that UNN never issued him any degree, the inevitable question remains: how did he come into possession of the certificate he submitted to Nigerian authorities?

Source: https://dailytrust.com/alleged-forgery-unn-never-issued-me-degree-certificate-minister

So Tinubu's minister just admitted that he forged all the documents he presented to the senate and the school said he never finished from the school, so what exactly did the DSS vet before his appointment?

It shows you that these guys don't do anything called screening, yet these are the same people raising the bar to screen small children writing JAMB to gain admission into school, when you have a president of lies and forgery, it is no surprise...

In all this saga, I must commend UNN for keeping a proper record. I'm impressed that a Nigerian university still has the records of students it admitted in 1980s.

Oga thief
Him boys thief thief
His stooge thief thief thief
Yarimo thiefiano 😭

The issue of certificate forgery should not be overlooked at all. No nation is built on falsehood and lies. Tinubu is against that

SE would always cry marginalization but now you can see a typical example of the wahala this one dey cause!

BAT should replace him with a northerner or SS person!

Make them no stain person with Kpotokpoto!

SmartPolician:
In all this saga, I must commend UNN for keeping a proper record. I'm impressed that a Nigerian university still has the records of students it admitted in 1980s.

You obviously don’t know what an official record means.

If you do, you will know that, irrespective of the location, even if you go to your primary school in the village (assuming you attended a local primary school), they still will be able to produce a copy of your class two report card.

Helinuse:
You obviously don’t know what an official record means.

If you do, you will know that, irrespective of the location, even if you go to your primary school in the village (assuming you attended a local primary school), they still will be able to produce a copy of your class two report card.

The time you used to write that trash would've been used in explaining what you think you know that we don't.

What of Nysc?

And which one did you submit for clearance ?

Dem supposed arrest dis fraudster turned minister

AntiChristian:
SE would always cry marginalization but now you can see a typical example of the wahala this one dey cause!

BAT should replace him with a northerner or SS person!

Make them no stain person with Kpotokpoto!

Haha birds of the same feather, your BAT does not have primary and secondary certificate and you are expecting him to punish his certificate forging minister, you are not serious.

He has shot himself in the foot and would continue to tell further lies to expose his daftness.
If the institution didn't offer you a Degree , isn't this a clear case of forgery ?

Brendaniel:
So Tinubu's minister just admitted that he forged all the documents he presented to the senate and the school said he never finished from the school, so what exactly did the DSS vet before his appointment?

It shows you that these guys don't do anything called screening, yet these are the same people raising the bar to screen small children writing JAMB to gain admission into school, when you have a president of lies and forgery, it is no surprise...

It's shocking that DSS will screen out el-Rufai (who I don't like but whose records are in the public) and screen in this forger

AntiChristian:
SE would always cry marginalization but now you can see a typical example of the wahala this one dey cause!

BAT should replace him with a northerner or SS person!

Make them no stain person with Kpotokpoto!

Let's not forget that Kemi Adeosun started all this. Forgery by ministers

Brendaniel:
So Tinubu's minister just admitted that he forged all the documents he presented to the senate and the school said he never finished from the school, so what exactly did the DSS vet before his appointment?

It shows you that these guys don't do anything called screening, yet these are the same people raising the bar to screen small children writing JAMB to gain admission into school, when you have a president of lies and forgery, it is no surprise...

You mean, you brother with usual fake products? As anything fake

Smartwave:
You mean, you brother with usual fake products? As anything fake

And Tinubu decided to pick fake to work with him abi?

He should be prosecuted and jailed. But instead the judgement will be pronounced in another person who do the same who is not a politician

Apcnewrecruit:
The issue of certificate forgery should not be overlooked at all. No nation is built on falsehood and lies. Tinubu is against that

but Tinubu himself is a Certificate forget so what are you saying

Helinuse:
You obviously don’t know what an official record means.

If you do, you will know that, irrespective of the location, even if you go to your primary school in the village (assuming you attended a local primary school), they still will be able to produce a copy of your class two report card.

Mainly government schools by the way. Some private schools have gone extinct after the death of the founders.

My younger brothers attended a school that became moribund after the death of the founder. The children were not interested in continuing the business and they sold the building. That was how the school died and it was a big school.

Where in this suit did he admit he forged his credentials?
It's clear he,like many other government appointees and elected officials,forged the certificates he presented for screening,but PT is here trying to play smart by alluding to claims of admittance of forgery in the lawsuit that Nnaji didn't make.
That's disengenious of them.

Then u begin to wonder why this country is not moving forward to prosperity...president forged certificate, his minister did seem..infact in the case of his master ,he started in a college two years before it was established...

Like Principal, like the appointed, under APC, you have people of questionable characters. A man claimed he went to St Paul, Aroloya, GCI and CSU.

All you have to do is just present your O' level certificate, the law Nigeria didn't say you must provide degree certificate.

But because you know presenting O' level would become a moral burden on you for being a minister of science and tech.

It is well with Nigeria.

APC, the broom-waving party, actually came to erode anything called integrity from the Nigerian political system.
Things have not been this bad! From Buhari to Tinubu, it's been one scandal after the other and this is due to the desperation to hold on tightly to political office.

So which university issued the paper you are parading up and down?

SmartPolician:
In all this saga, I must commend UNN for keeping a proper record. I'm impressed that a Nigerian university still has the records of students it admitted in 1980s.

Nothing to commend here. ALL Nigerian Universities have their records intact from inception except where there has been a fire or destruction