By Tgnews Reporter, Abuja
In a bombshell admission that has ignited widespread condemnation, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, confessed in court documents that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate, effectively confirming allegations of certificate forgery that have plagued his tenure since his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2023.
The revelation emerged in a lawsuit filed by Nnaji against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, its Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Ortuanya, Registrar Celine Nnebedum, and others at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Seeking to compel the release of his academic transcript and prevent “tampering” with records, Nnaji’s 34-paragraph affidavit stated he was admitted in 1981 for Microbiology/Biochemistry but “yet to collect my certificate” due to university officials’ “non-cooperative attitude.”
Justice Hauwa Yilwa granted partial relief on September 22, 2025, but denied an injunction blocking record releases, with the case adjourned to October 6 for hearing.
This confession aligns with a two-year PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealing Nnaji submitted forged UNN bachelor’s degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu, the Senate, SGF, and SSS during his August 2023 screening, where he claimed a 1985 graduation.
UNN’s Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya confirmed in an October 2, 2025, letter that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 (matric no. 1981/30725) but did not complete studies, with no graduation records, thus no degree was awarded. Earlier, UNN Registrar Nnebedum’s December 2023 letter affirming graduation was recanted in May 2025 after records search found no trace of Nnaji.
Sources close to the matter suggest Nnaji filed the suit to halt UNN from disclosing his incomplete academic history to media like PREMIUM TIMES and to obtain a transcript recalling his dropout point.
A senior UNN official attributed prior discrepancies to possible manipulation or error, emphasizing Nnaji’s file shows he dropped out without graduating. NYSC similarly disowned his service certificate, lacking any records.
Despite repeated outreach, including a January 2024 query acknowledged by his office, Nnaji has stonewalled PREMIUM TIMES, refusing comment. He is reportedly set to address the scandal at an Abuja press conference today.
The admission raises grave questions: If UNN issued no degree, how did Nnaji acquire the forged document submitted for his cabinet role, and how did he qualify for NYSC?
Public fury has erupted, with Nigerians demanding his resignation, arrest, and prosecution for criminal deception, decrying lapses in government vetting. Critics argue this erodes trust in Tinubu’s administration and highlights systemic flaws in credential verification for public office.
