Presidency Reacts to Allegations of Certificate Forgery Against Tinubu’s Minister

The Presidency has stated that it would defer any immediate action against the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, who is currently facing a certificate forgery scandal, pending the court’s verdict.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the clarification while responding to inquiries on the matter on Monday.

Onanuga, in an interview with The Leadership Newspaper, said, “This matter is already in court. We should await the verdict of the court.”

The controversy deepened last week when the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate allegedly submitted by the minister.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the institution confirmed that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, he never completed the programme.

“From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study.

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“Following the above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and, consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji,” the letter stated.

The school noted that the position was consistent with an earlier letter sent to the Public Complaints Commission on May 13, 2025.

In his filing before the Federal High Court, Nnaji admitted that he had not yet collected his degree certificate, blaming the delay on what he described as the university’s “non-cooperative attitude.”

The minister, however, insists he graduated in 1985, citing a previous letter from the university in December 2023 that had affirmed his graduation.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations and opposition politicians have continued to demand that Nnaji step aside pending the conclusion of the case.

Critics argue that his continued stay in office undermines public trust in the government’s anti-corruption stance.

Despite the mounting pressure, the Presidency has insisted it would not be drawn into the controversy.

Onanuga maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will respect the judicial process and allow the courts to determine Nnaji’s fate before making any move.