Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has confirmed that he did not obtain a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Nnaji had submitted a UNN degree certificate, among the credentials he submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation.
The minister made move through the court in an affidavit, to restrain the university from releasing details of his academic records to anyone. But in paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, Nnaji accused UNN officials of not giving him a certificate.
Paragraph 12 of his affidavit 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 said “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.’”
UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum signed the letter sent to the People’s Gazette in response to an enquiry. But its contents have since been invalidated.
The registrar wrote in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025, saying the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Nnaji’s name.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of UNN Prof. Simon Ortuanya confirmed in an October 3, 2025 letter to PREMIUM TIMES that the minister did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.
Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged 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 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.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that Nnaji’s confession was found in court 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.
He had sought from Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, through a motion ex parte, a prayer to issue prerogative writs prohibiting UNN and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records.
The minister also asked for leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus ordering the university and its officials to give him his academic transcript, as well as asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.
He also sought for an interim injunction stopping UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court on September 22 ruled in Nnaji’s favour answering 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.
As at the time of filing this report, the minister has not spoken on the latest finding even when a written enquiry sent on 8 January 2024, which his office formally acknowledged and stamped as “received” on 18 January 2024 at 1 p.m.
