The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into a certificate forgery scandal involving Uche Nnaji, who previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
This follows a detailed two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October 2025, which indicated that Nnaji had submitted forged degree and NYSC certificates during his ministerial confirmation process in 2023.
Just three days subsequent to the revelations from the investigation, Nnaji resigned from his ministerial role.
Following this, numerous Nigerians demanded Nnaji's prosecution, arguing that his resignation did not suffice in addressing his alleged breaches of Nigerian law, specifically the Criminal Code Act.
Recent developments suggest that the ICPC has reached out to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, requesting the documentation Nnaji provided for his ministerial appointment. Reports also indicate that the commission has contacted the Nigerian Senate to obtain the same documents.
Sources disclose that if proven true, the allegations may result in Nnaji facing prosecution.
Although it remains unconfirmed if the ICPC has engaged with NYSC authorities concerning this matter, there are indications of ongoing discussions between the involved parties.
In a related context, Celine Nnebedum, the registrar of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has reportedly appeared before ICPC investigators to clarify the university's stance on the forgery allegations against Nnaji. In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the Peoples Gazette in 2024, Nnebedum asserted that Nnaji was admitted to UNN in 1981 and graduated in 1985.
However, during a subsequent inquiry from the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), she changed her statement, mentioning in May 2025 that the university had conducted a search through its graduation records for the 1985 session and could not locate Nnaji's name.
In a recent letter dated October 6, 2025, signed by F.C. Achiuwa, the Senior Deputy Registrar (Records) of UNN, it was reiterated that Nnaji did not complete his studies there and, consequently, was not issued a degree certificate. This statement aligns with earlier correspondence from UNN's Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, which also confirmed that Nnaji did not complete his course and was never awarded a degree.
Following up on the ICPC investigation, it was disclosed that the commission has solicited further information from UNN, and while the registrar has provided some answers, additional documents may still be required.
The current status regarding whether these documents have been submitted to the ICPC remains unclear.
When approached for comments on Thursday, the spokesperson for the ICPC, John Odey, indicated that he could not provide information due to being on leave. He suggested that further details would be available upon his return the following week.
This inquiry into Nnaji's credentials began in October 2023 when he submitted his degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his appointment proceedings.
Nnaji had claimed to have attained his degree certificate from UNN upon his graduation in 1985. Disturbed by the ongoing scrutiny, he filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja intending to block the university and its vice-chancellor from disclosing his academic records.
In addition to the university and its officials, the litigation also listed the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, the university's registrar, a former acting vice-chancellor, and the university's Senate as defendants.
Before filing this suit, Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya had answered inquiries from PREMIUM TIMES, confirming that Nnaji had indeed forged his UNN degree certificate. The university's registrar later supported Ortuanya's assertion.
In response to a separate FOI request from PREMIUM TIMES, NYSC authorities also denied the validity of the discharge certificate that Nnaji had in his possession. Nnaji announced his resignation as minister just three days after PREMIUM TIMES revealed the findings of the investigation regarding his forged degree and NYSC certificates.
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