The Presidency has officially responded to the certificate forgery allegations against the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, stating that no action will be taken until the court concludes its ruling on the matter.
This clarification came from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Monday. According to Onanuga, since the controversy is currently under judicial consideration, the Federal Government will respect due process and wait for the court’s decision before determining the next course of action.
The issue emerged following a letter reportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which denied issuing any academic certificate to Nnaji. The university stated that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, there is no record indicating that he completed the program or graduated.
In the letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, the institution stated:
“From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985. There are no records of his completion of study. Consequently, the university DID NOT and COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate.”
The revelation triggered widespread public concern and calls for the minister’s suspension. However, Nnaji has firmly denied the allegations, calling them politically driven. Addressing the media on the same day in Abuja, he accused the university of being manipulated by political actors seeking to tarnish his reputation.
According to Nnaji, the certificate scandal is a calculated attempt by a state governor, whom he did not name, to remove him from office for political reasons. He also criticized UNN for failing to comply with a court order issued in September 2025 by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed the university not to tamper with his academic records and to release his transcript.
“It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity; it is about political desperation, disguised as academic inquiry,” Nnaji stated. “The timing, the sources, the false documents and the paid narratives all point to a coordinated campaign to drag a reputable public servant into the mud of partisan politics.”
The case is scheduled to be heard on **November 10, 2025**, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Until then, the Presidency has made it clear that it will refrain from making any decisions on the minister’s status.
Civil society groups and opposition leaders have called for increased scrutiny and transparency, while legal experts emphasize the importance of allowing the judiciary to handle the matter without political interference.
As public interest grows, all eyes are now on the upcoming court session, which could determine not just Nnaji’s political future, but also set a precedent for how certificate-related controversies involving public officials are handled in the future.
