Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - The Enugu State Government has denied sponsoring allegations of certificate forgery against the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, urging him to “carry his cross” and clear his name before Nigerians.
The government, in a press statement issued in Enugu on
Monday by the Director of Information in the Ministry of Information and
Communication, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nebo, said it had no hand whatsoever in the
controversies surrounding the Minister’s academic records.
“The Enugu State Government dissociates itself completely
from these allegations. The Honourable Minister must carry his own cross and
clear his name before Nigerians, instead of dragging the government into issues
that are entirely personal to him,” Mr. Nebo declared.
The Director of Information recalled that Chief Nnaji had
invited journalists to a world press conference scheduled for Monday at 2:00 pm
to address the matter, but failed to show up.
“A large number of Nigerian and international journalists
reportedly gathered on the Minister’s invitation to hear directly from him. But
rather than appear before them to answer questions and establish his innocence,
the Minister absconded, leaving behind proxies who could not withstand the
barrage of legitimate questions from journalists.
“Who can narrate Chief Nnaji’s UNN story better than him?
Why invite the media, only to outsource the conference? Why send third parties,
who lack the answers to critical questions, if he truly has nothing to hide?”
Mr. Nebo queried.
“Did he, for his screening, present a purported degree
certificate to the Senate showing that he graduated from the prestigious
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in July 1985?
“Is it true that he deposed in a Federal High Court filing
in Abuja that he was not issued any degree certificate by UNN and, if so, how
did he come about the degree certificate he presented to the Senate?
“Is it also true that while he claims to have graduated in
July 1985, he applied to the university to retake Virology (Course code: MCB
431) in the September 1985 Supplementary Examination, having failed the course?
“Is it also true that the university, in a November 8, 1985
letter, informed Uche Nnaji that he again failed Virology (Course code: MCB
431) in the Supplementary Examinations, but could register to retake the course
in the June 1986 examinations, provided he paid an examination fee of N4.00
(Four naira)?
“Is it true that on January 3, 1986, he again applied to
retake the Virology (Course code: MCB 431) examination in June 1986, stating in
his letter that the receipt for the payment of the N4.00 (Four Naira) resit fee
had been attached?
“Is it true that while he claims to be in possession of a
university degree, he only submitted his Secondary School WASC Certificate to
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his participation in
the 2023 governorship election?
“Why did Uche Nnaji’s proxy state at the Abuja press
conference that the Minister “graduated”, while avoiding stating categorically
that he was issued a degree certificate?
“Did he also present a purported NYSC discharge certificate
showing that he commenced his national service in April 1985, three months
before his supposed graduation, and served until July 1986 — an unusual
duration of 13 months instead of the usual 12 months of national service?
“Whereas the CEO of the NYSC at the time he claimed to have
undergone the national service was Col. Edet Akpan (January 1984 to December
1987), Uche Nnaji’s NYSC discharge certificate was signed by Col. Animashaun
Braimoh, who was NYSC CEO from January 1988 to December 1990.
“Is it true that NYSC certificates issued up till October
1990 had six-digit numbering devoid of alphabetic characters, but Uche Nnaji’s
discharge certificate, supposedly issued in 1986, was numbered A231309, which
includes the alphabet ‘A’?
“And above all, is it a fact that he deposed to an affidavit
in the suit he filed in court that UNN did not issue him any certificate? And
if that is the case, Nigerians want to know how he came about the certificate
he submitted to the Senate of his own free will in 2023.
“These are the clarifications Nigerians earnestly yearn for,
and Chief Uche Nnaji is urged to brave up to clear his name, if he is truly
innocent, rather than trading blames,” Nebo stressed.
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