The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has accused the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, of masterminding the allegations of certificate forgery leveled against him.
Reacting to the controversy, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it was not surprised that President Bola Tinubu retained Nnaji in his cabinet, even after both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned the certificates he presented for his ministerial appointment.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja through his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, the minister described the allegations as a political witch-hunt allegedly sponsored by Governor Mbah, who, he claimed, intends to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where Nnaji is a strong member.
He said, “Mbah wants Nnaji out of the way. He has given a new name to all his problems. He is seeking a second term in office and the only way to achieve this is to get Nnaji out of the way. He wants to join APC but fully aware that Nnaji is there. He is not comfortable,” Ngwu claimed.
An online platform had earlier reported that the minister forged UNN credentials, which he submitted to President Tinubu and the Senate during his screening and confirmation process.
However, the minister, in his latest reaction, called on the authorities of UNN to uphold its motto and defend its integrity by reaffirming the authenticity of its official records.
He said, “This is not just about one man’s academic record; it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics.”
According to Ngwu, the minister is a proud alumnus of UNN, having graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry. He said this was clearly documented in the university’s records, acknowledged in official correspondence, and reflected in the 1985 Convocation Brochure.
While insisting that the minister was issued a certificate upon graduation — without which he could not have participated in the compulsory NYSC scheme — Ngwu maintained that “the only authentic letter issued by the university on this matter is the one dated December 21, 2023,” which was presented during Nnaji’s ministerial screening exercise.
Ngwu blamed the controversy on the university authorities, particularly the Vice Chancellor, whom he alleged is a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was being used by the governor to undermine the minister.
On the legal aspect, Ngwu explained that when the minister got wind of attempts to tamper with his academic file, he approached the court for protection. According to him, the court, on September 22, granted an injunction restraining the Vice Chancellor and management of UNN from interfering with his academic records.
He added that the court also issued an order of mandamus compelling the university to release his academic transcript — an order which he claimed the institution has yet to comply with.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the Tinubu administration’s silence over the forgery allegations as “proof of its ample tolerance for corruption of all kinds.”
The ADC said it was a disservice to the nation that “a man tainted with such dubious credentials” could be placed at the helm of a ministry meant to drive innovation, despite the abundance of qualified Nigerians with integrity and competence.