“MINISTER’S FAKE DEGREE: COURTROOM DRAMA UNFOLDS AS NNAJI’S LAWYER CLASHES WITH PREMIUM TIMES”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–A heated courtroom exchange erupted on Monday as the legal team of Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, expressed outrage over a PREMIUM TIMES investigation alleging certificate forgery. Nnaji’s lead lawyer, Sebastian Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pointed to the investigation during the court’s first hearing session on the civil suit regarding the minister’s academic records at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) .
Key Highlights:
– Certificate Forgery Allegations: The PREMIUM TIMES report revealed that Nnaji submitted forged UNN and National Youth Service Corps certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate for his ministerial appointment in 2023.
– UNN’s Response: The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never graduated and never collected a degree.
– NYSC’s Findings: The National Youth Service Corps also raised concerns about the authenticity of Nnaji’s national service certificate.
– Court Proceedings: Nnaji’s lawyer argued that the publication contradicted the court’s expectations that parties maintain the status quo after being served, while the university’s lawyer stated they would advise their clients to maintain status quo pending the substantive hearing
What’s Next:
The case has been adjourned until November 10, with Nnaji’s lawyer planning to file further processes in response to the allegations. The scandal has sparked widespread public concern, with calls for Nnaji’s suspension and a thorough investigation into the allegations
A PREMIUM TIMES investigation published on Saturday reported that the certificate purporting that UNN awarded him a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in July 1985 was forged.
Validating PREMIUM TIMES’ findings from a two-year investigation, UNN disowned the certificate Mr Nnaji presented for his appointment.
The university’s action came months after authorities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) similarly told PREMIUM TIMES that the certificate of national service being paraded by Mr Nnaji was strange to it and could not be authenticated.
In response to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FoI) request, Simon Ortuanya, the vice-chancellor of UNN, wrote in a 2 October letter that although Mr Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
The university’s reply to our enquiry contradicted an earlier response to the People’s Gazette newspaper on the matter. On 21 December 2023, Celine Nnebedum, the university registrar, responded to the newspaper’s enquiry, saying Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985.
The official has since recanted, telling the Public Complaints Commission in a 23 May 2025 letter that the university searched its graduation records for the 1985 session but could not find Mr Nnaji’s name on them.
Also, the latest information provided by Mr Ortuanya and Mrs Nnebedum to us and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) aligns with the findings of our two-year investigation on the matter.
Striking confession
Strikingly, the minister admitted in his court filing that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.
In paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, he accused UNN officials of refusing to issue him a certificate and, in the process, confirmed that he “never collected one.”
In the suit, Mr Nnaji had sought, through a motion ex parte, an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs, prohibiting UNN and its officials from tampering with or continuing to tamper with his academic records.
He also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.
Additionally, Mr Nnaji requested an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from tampering with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In her ruling on 22 September, Judge Yilwa granted three of his prayers but declined to issue any injunctive order against the defendants. The case was then adjourned to 6 October (Monday) for further hearing
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