By Abiola Olawale
A political showdown has erupted between Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Uche Nnaji, over allegations of certificate forgery against the latter.
What began as a controversy over Nnaji’s academic credentials has ignited into a war of words, with both figures accusing each other of sabotage and deceit.
The scandal, which has dominated headlines in Nigeria’s political sphere, centered on Nnaji’s purported Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
In a bombshell revelation last week, UNN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, confirmed in a letter to investigative outlet Premium Times that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he “did not complete his studies” and was never issued the degree certificate he has long presented.
This disclosure follows a pattern of scrutiny over Nnaji’s credentials, including a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, which purportedly bore inconsistencies.
However, Nnaji, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Enugu who placed fourth in the 2023 elections behind Mbah’s victory, has vehemently denied the forgery claims.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, during a press briefing in Abuja on October 6, the minister dismissed the allegations as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” purportedly orchestrated by Mbah to eliminate a rival ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The governor had given a new name to all his problems — Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji,” Ngwu said, alleging the attacks were linked to the governor’s political ambitions.
Ngwu further stated that Mbah, who is reportedly seeking a second term, views Nnaji as an obstacle to his rumoured plan to defect from the APC to the PDP.
The minister’s aide further stated that Nnaji had formally requested his academic transcript from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to clear his name, but noted that the university failed to release it despite a court order.
He continued: “He asked the school to release his transcript. He applied for his transcript so that it becomes clear to everyone because it is the ultimate. So, that is why, even with the court order, they have not seen reasons to release his transcript.
“We have information that the minister’s file was kept under lock and key in the vice-chancellor’s office. Why would the file of a serving minister of the Federal Republic be sitting in your office?
“There is no actual discrepancy. In the Igbo language, ‘Uchenna’ or ‘Uchechukwu’ essentially carries the same meaning — often interpreted as ‘the will’ or ‘mind of God.’ They are commonly used interchangeably. The surname remains consistent.”
However, the Director of Information at the Enugu State Ministry of Information and Communication, Chukwuemeka Nebo, has denied Nnaji’s claims, stating that the government had no connection to the controversy.
“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,” Nebo said.
Nebo criticised the minister’s failure to personally confront the issue, saying, “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?
“Did he, for his screening, present a purported degree certificate to the Senate showing that he graduated from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 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?”
“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?”
