FG Confirms Ex Minister Forged UNN Certificate

FG Confirms Ex Minister Forged UNN Certificate

A federal government panel has confirmed that former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, presented a forged degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The finding came after an investigation ordered by the government following claims that the certificate submitted during his appointment was not genuine.

The seven-member committee was set up on 23 November 2025 after Nnaji wrote to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, asking for an inquiry.

His petition followed a report published by PREMIUM TIMES in October 2024 which questioned the authenticity of his university degree and National Youth Service Corps documents.

During the investigation, the panel reviewed records at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and met with school officials including the vice chancellor Simon Ortuanya and former acting vice chancellor Oguejiofor Ujam.

The team examined academic files, internal letters, senate graduation lists, convocation records and other documents linked to the former minister’s studies.

Investigators discovered that Nnaji’s name did not appear on the university’s Senate approved graduation list for the 1985 set.

Records also showed he had earlier failed a virology course and requested another opportunity to take the exam in 1986 due to illness, yet the panel could not find any evidence that he later passed the course, raising questions about how he obtained a certificate dated July 1985 which was submitted during his ministerial screening.