A federal government investigative panel has confirmed that former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, forged his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The seven-member panel was set up by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on 23 November 2025 following a petition submitted by Mr Nnaji after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation published in October last year alleged that he falsified both his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
The panel completed its work and submitted a detailed report to the education minister in December 2025.
Nnaji’s petition and probe panel
In a petition dated 14 October 2025, Mr Nnaji accused senior officials of UNN of unethical disclosure, document tampering and politically motivated manipulation of his academic records.
The former minister specifically accused the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, and a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, of “issuing forged or unauthorised correspondence, improperly accessing his academic file, and facilitating media publications that misrepresented his academic history.”
The investigation panel was chaired by the Director of the University Education Department in the education ministry, Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, while James Ocheido, a deputy director in the department, served as secretary.
Other members were Ejeh A. U, Director of Polytechnics and Allied Institutions Department; U. C. Uba, Director of Colleges of Education Department; and Mohammed Ayuba, representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Also on the panel were Yusuf Saeed, Director of Human Resources in the ministry, and Foluso Akinlonu from the ministry’s Legal Services Unit.
According to the report, the panel relied on “documentary review, interviews, verification, and technical audit as its methodological approach.”
Investigators visited the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where they interacted with the institution’s leadership and staff while examining relevant records.
Those interviewed included the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ortuanya; former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ujam; the Registrar, Celine Nnebedum; officials of the Records Unit; and other staff involved in managing academic documentation.
The panel also reviewed Mr Nnaji’s academic file, internal correspondences, and letters issued by UNN in 2023 and 2025.
In addition, investigators examined historical academic records, registry movement logs, Senate graduation lists, convocation archives, electronic access records and other relevant documentation, including Mr Nnaji’s transcript request and the authenticity of letters sent by the university to media organisations and government agencies.
“The members of the panel arrived (UNN) in Nsukka on Sunday, 23rd November 2025. On Monday, 24th November, the panel paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Simon Ortuanya and informed him of the purpose of the visit and proceeded to the venue the university provided for the panel to use,” the report stated.
‘Nnaji forged his UNN certificate’
An earlier PREMIUM TIMES investigation had reported that although Mr Nnaji gained admission to study biological sciences at UNN in the 1981/82academic session, he did not graduate because he failed one of his courses, Virology (MCB 431AB), and was therefore not issued a certificate.
The federal government panel confirmed this after reviewing the Senate-approved graduation list for 1985 and Mr Nnaji’s student records.
According to the report, investigators discovered that his name was not included among the graduates of the 1985 set.
The panel also found “several correspondences” dated between 8 November 1985 and 19 May 1986exchanged between Mr Nnaji and the university’s Registry Department concerning the failed course MCB 431 – Virology.
These documents were contained in pages 69 to 55 of the former minister’s academic file.
In one handwritten letter dated 19 May 1986 and titled “Application to take course, 431AB in September,” Mr Nnaji explained that he missed an examination scheduled for 21 April 1986 due to illness and attached a medical report to support his claim.
However, the panel said investigators could not find any evidence that he later retook the failed course.
“The panel was unable to find any record of him (Nnaji) having taken the failed course,” the report further read.
Investigators therefore questioned how Mr Nnaji came into possession of a “purported certificate of graduation” dated July 1985, which he presented to President Bola Tinubu for his ministerial appointment and to the National Assembly during his confirmation process.
The panel’s conclusions align with the earlier PREMIUM TIMES investigation which alleged that the former minister falsified his academic credentials.
Background
An online newspaper PREMIUM TIMES began examining Mr Nnaji’s academic credentials in October 2023 after he submitted degree and NYSC certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial screening.
He claimed to have graduated from UNN in 1985.
While the investigation was ongoing, Mr Nnaji approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain the university and its vice-chancellor from releasing his academic records.
Those listed as defendants in the suit included UNN, its vice-chancellor, the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, the university registrar, former Acting Vice-Chancellor Mr Ujam, and the UNN Senate.
Before an injunction could be secured, however, Vice-Chancellor Simon Ortuanya responded to a Freedom of Information request from PREMIUM TIMES confirming that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate.
The university registrar subsequently supported the vice-chancellor’s position, stating that although Mr Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he neither graduated nor received any certificate from the institution.
Similarly, the National Youth Service Corps told PREMIUM TIMES, in response to a separate FOI request, that the discharge certificate held by the former minister was not authentic.
Mr Nnaji resigned as minister three days after the newspaper published its investigation.
His resignation sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians insisting that he should face prosecution for alleged violations of several Nigerian laws, including provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
Last week, legal practitioner Liborous Oshoma criticised the federal government for failing to prosecute the former minister, saying individuals involved in such acts “should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The newspaper also reported in February that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had launched an investigation into the forgery allegations.
Sources said the former minister could face prosecution if investigators establish that the credentials he presented were indeed forged.
(PREMIUM TIMES)
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