Tinubu Minister Resigns Amid Certificate Forgery Scandal

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned amid a certificate forgery scandal.

The presidency, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s acceptance of Nnaji’s resignation on Tuesday amid controversy over his academic records at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Nnaji was said to have cited alleged blackmail and political attacks in his resignation letter.

“He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.

“President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours,” said Onanuga.

Last week, Premium Times published an exposé alleging that Nnaji was involved in multiple cases of certificate forgery. UNN had also disowned him as having graduated from the university.

Nnaji consequently filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja against UNN, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Minister of Education, seeking orders to compel the release of his academic transcript and restrain the university from tampering with his records.

However, proceedings in the case were stalled on Monday due to the failure of the defendants to file their responses.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa adjourned the matter until November 10 for hearing.

Nnaji had also joined the Registrar, UNN; a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam; and the Senate of the university as 5th to 7th respondents respectively.

Nnaji, in an ex-parte motion, sought an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting the university 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.

The judge had, on September 22, granted three of the reliefs sought by Nnaji but declined to issue any injunctive order against the respondents, before adjourning the matter until October 6 for further hearing.