"Are we running a government of certificate forgers and criminality?” Human rights lawyer calls for suspension of UCHE NNAJI

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has urged the Nigeria police to probe the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, over allegations of certificate forgery.

Effiong made this call on Monday, while responding to questions in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

He stated that the inconsistencies in the minister’s academic records and the conflicting statements from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and the minister himself required urgent attention.

The lawyer expressed shock that such alleged irregularities escaped scrutiny during Nnaji’s screening before appointment.

“How did all these things escape the scrutiny of the Nigerian State Security Service?

“As I speak to you, the State Security Service has maintained a conspiratorial silence. It is a conspiracy,” he added.

The human rights activist described the allegations as “grave” and urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Nnaji pending investigation.

“This minister must be immediately suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“He has to surrender himself to the police for investigation for forgery; otherwise, they will be telling Nigerians that we are running a government of certificate forgers and criminality,” he added.