Minister Nnaji’s Alleged Certificate Forgery…We’ll Act After Court Verdict, Says Presidency

As pressure continues to mount on the minister of science, technology, and innovation, Uche Nnaji, to resign over an alleged certificate forgery, the Presidency has said it will act after the court verdict.

According to the Presidency, a comment on the matter won’t be necessary since the matter is already before the court.

Reacting to LEADERSHIP’s inquiry on Monday, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the federal government would respect the judicial process and await the court’s verdict before taking any position.

“This matter is already in court. We should await the verdict of the court,” Onanuga told LEADERSHIP.
The clarification comes following revelations that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the certificate allegedly submitted by Nnaji.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the institution said records showed that Nnaji, with matriculation number 1981/30725, was admitted to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1981 but did not complete his studies.

Part of the letter reads: “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.

“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 university said its position was consistent with an earlier letter sent to the Public Complaints Commission on May 13, 2025, in response to a similar inquiry.

However, in his filing before the court, Nnaji admitted that he had yet to collect his degree certificate from the university, attributing the delay to what he described as UNN officials’ “non-cooperative attitude.”

Despite this, calls have intensified from civil society organisations and opposition figures urging Nnaji to step aside pending the case’s conclusion.

But the Presidency says it will not be drawn into the controversy, insisting that due process must take its full course. (Leadership Newspaper)