A Federal Government investigative panel has confirmed that the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, forged his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
According to an exclusive report by PREMIUM TIMES, the seven-member panel concluded that the university credentials submitted by the former minister were indeed fraudulent.
The panel was established on November 23, 2025, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Ironically, the probe was triggered by a petition from Mr. Nnaji himself, who had alleged that senior UNN officials were involved in “unethical disclosure, document tampering, and political manipulation of his academic records.”
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He specifically accused the Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, and former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, of “issuing forged or unauthorised correspondence, improperly accessing his academic file, and facilitating media publications that misrepresented his academic history.”
Led by Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, the Director of the University Education Department, the panel utilized a rigorous process involving “documentary review, interviews, verification, and technical audit as its methodological approach.”
Investigators conducted physical visits to the UNN campus, where they scrutinized Senate lists, registry logs, convocation archives, and electronic access records.
The investigation uncovered several critical discrepancies:
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Missing Graduation Records: A comprehensive review of the 1985 Senate-approved graduation list and Mr. Nnaji’s personal student file revealed that his name was entirely absent from the list of graduates for that year.
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Evidence of Failed Coursework: The panel discovered correspondence between Mr. Nnaji and the university registry dated between November 1985 and May 1986 regarding a failed course, MCB 431 – Virology.
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Personal Admission of Absence: In a handwritten letter dated May 1986, titled “Application to take course, 431AB in September,” Mr. Nnaji explained he missed an exam on April 21, 1986, due to poor health. The panel stated: “The panel was unable to find any record of him (Nnaji) having taken the failed course.”
Given that Mr. Nnaji was still corresponding with the university about a failed course in 1986, the panel expressed bewilderment at how he obtained a “purported certificate of graduation” dated July 1985.
This is the same document he submitted to President Bola Tinubu for his appointment and to the National Assembly for his ministerial screening.
The panel’s final report, submitted in December 2025, effectively validates the earlier media reports that the former minister’s degree and NYSC certificates were not genuine.
