Uche Nnaji resigns as minister after being accused of certificate forgery

Uche Nnaji has resigned as the minister of innovation, science, and technology following the allegations of certificate forgery against him.

Nnaji has been under fire over allegations that he forged the credentials he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the senate during his ministerial confirmation.

President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023.

An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the senate, were forged.

In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said President Bola Tinubu has accepted Nnaji’s resignation.

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

“Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

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

Before his resignation, a federal high court in Abuja dismissed Nnaji’s request to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), from releasing his academic records.

Hausa Yilwa, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on September 22, rejecting Nnaji’s application for an injunction.

In the ruling’s certified true copy (CTC), the judge acknowledged that Nnaji had a legitimate interest in the matter; he ruled that the injunction to restrain UNN from releasing the records could not be granted.

“I find that the applicant has sufficient interest in the matter, and the application is partly meritorious. Accordingly, prayers 1, 2 and 3 are granted, while prayer 4, which sought an injunction, is declined,” the judge had said.

The judge clarified that the court’s decision should not be interpreted as preventing any party from performing its lawful duties.

The court examined submissions from Nnaji’s legal team and reviewed supporting affidavits before reaching its decision.