“…..We Build in Vain – Nigeria’s Public Service Crumbling Under the Burden of Fake Certificates”
By Emmanuel Kwada
In a blistering indictment of systemic rot within Nigeria’s corridors of power, the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) has issued a resounding call for immediate accountability following explosive allegations of certificate forgery against former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji.
The institute’s press release, unveiled today under the stark banner “We Build in Vain – Nigeria’s Public Service Crumbling Under the Burden of Fake Certificates,” accuses the nation’s institutions of fostering a “pervasive culture of forgery” that erodes public trust and rewards criminality, demanding swift investigations, prosecutions, and sweeping reforms to avert a total collapse of governance integrity.
CIFCFIN’s urgent communiqué, signed by order of its Governing Council, spotlights the Nnaji scandal as a symptom of deeper institutional failures, triggered by a meticulous two-year investigation from Premium Times that exposed the ex-minister’s alleged submission of forged University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates during his 2023 ministerial confirmation.
The report revealed discrepancies, including UNN’s official denial that Nnaji completed his studies or received a degree, and anomalies in the NYSC document, such as anachronistic serial numbering and an incorrect signatory – the Director-General who assumed office 18 months after the purported service period.
Nnaji’s subsequent resignation on October 7, accepted by President Bola Tinubu, has done little to quell the outrage, with CIFCFIN insisting that “resignation must be met with the full force of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.”
“This demand follows a courageous investigation by Premium Times, which revealed that Mr. Nnaji has allegedly forged his University Degree and NYSC discharge certificate, documents he submitted to the President and the Senate for his ministerial confirmation,” the release states, decrying the episode as a “clear indictment on our internal verification processes, systems, and institutions.”
CIFCFIN lambasts the “indifference, whether willful or negligent,” that allowed such fraud to thrive undetected, underscoring how external journalism was required to unearth what should have been flagged during routine background checks.
We Build in Vain – Nigeria’s Public Service Crumbling Under the Burden of Fake Certificates,” accuses the nation’s institutions of fostering a “pervasive culture of forgery” that erodes public trust and rewards criminality
At the heart of the institute’s clarion call are two immediate actions to “stem this tide and restore integrity to our public service.” First, it urges law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to establish a “transparent and accountable criminal justice system,” ensuring that the Nnaji case – and all similar high-profile matters – are treated “with urgency and concluded without unnecessary delays to demonstrate the celerity of justice.”
This, CIFCFIN argues, would rebuild eroded public confidence and signal that impunity has no place in modern Nigeria.
Second, and more ambitiously, the institute proposes a “nationwide independent forensic audit” encompassing the three arms and three tiers of government. This comprehensive review would scrutinize the academic credentials of all civil servants, public office holders, and ministerial nominees, led by CIFCFIN itself to guarantee “professional independence in accordance with global best practices.”
In an era demanding “new moral standards,” the release posits this as “the only way of restoring confidence of public trust in the Nigerian public service,” preventing fraudsters from exploiting verification gaps that have long plagued appointments.
Delving deeper, CIFCFIN dissects the “systemic failures” enabling such egregious acts, framing them as the “bedrock upon which such thrive in the Nigerian public service.” The institute identifies four core pathologies:
- Lack of Consequences and Poor Deterrent Measures: Prevailing sentiment allows individuals to “commit grave crimes without facing legal punishment,” with research showing that the certainty of being caught and prosecuted far outweighs punishment severity as a deterrent. When high-profile figures like Nnaji resign and retreat to private life, it “reinforces a culture of impunity and encourages recidivism.”
- Bad Culture of Rewarding Criminal Behaviour: The system has “actively rewarded similar alleged deceptions” by nominating, screening, confirming, and appointing individuals based on forged credentials. Rather than severe punishment as mandated by law, this sends a “clear signal that criminality is a viable pathway to power and prestige,” undermining honest citizens’ efforts.
- Judicial and Investigative Compromise: Perceptions of a “highly compromised system” – riddled with judicial delays and manipulations – pose an existential threat to public trust. “A swift and transparent prosecution of similar cases are critical to demonstrating the integrity and independence of our criminal justice system.”
- Indifference by Critical Institutions: Failures in “transparent and accountable processes, rig systems, and compromised institutions” – especially those responsible for background checks during confirmations – create exploitable gaps for fraudsters.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads,” the release poignantly warns. “We can either continue on the path of impunity, which erodes/harms the very foundations of our society, or we can choose the path of accountability and the rule of law. The prosecution of all offenders is the first step on this new path. Otherwise, shall continue to build in vain.”
The statement arrives amid a torrent of fallout from the Nnaji affair, including his lawsuit against UNN and the National Universities Commission (NUC) – filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025), with a hearing set for November 10 – seeking his academic transcript and an injunction against record tampering.
Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but “did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree
While Nnaji has denied the allegations, attributing delays to UNN’s “non-cooperative attitude” and blaming political rivals in Enugu State for blackmail, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, reaffirmed on October 2 that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but “did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.”
The Enugu State Government, distancing itself, advised the ex-minister to “carry his cross” and personally address the queries.
CIFCFIN, established under the 2022 Act to professionalize forensics and fraud investigations, positions itself as a bulwark against such decay, emphasizing that only independent, expert-led interventions can salvage Nigeria’s public service.
As the nation grapples with this latest blow to its leadership credibility, the institute’s release serves as both diagnosis and prescription: a plea for urgent, unflinching action to reclaim the rule of law before forgery’s shadow engulfs the foundations of governance.
Read Also: Tinubu Accepts Nnaji’s Resignation Amid Blackmail Allegations
