The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned the academic and discharge certificates presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, an investigator testified on Monday.
Appearing before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the first prosecution witness, Superintendent of Police Yakubu Ibrahim of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), revealed the findings of the anti-graft agency’s inquiry into Nnaji’s credentials.
Ibrahim explained that the ICPC initiated its investigation following two petitions questioning the authenticity of Nnaji’s bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry as well as his NYSC discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986.
According to the witness, official responses received from both institutions refuted the validity of the documents. UNN stated that it did not award a degree certificate to Nnaji, explaining that university policy disqualified students who failed to pass a required course after four attempts. Academic records provided by the university included a withdrawal notice issued in November 1984 regarding a General Microbiology course.
Similarly, the NYSC confirmed to investigators that the discharge certificate in question was not issued by the scheme.
Under cross-examination by defense counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the witness acknowledged that a subsequent university letter dated March 18, 1985, rescinded the initial November 1984 withdrawal notice. Ibrahim also conceded that investigators did not visit the UNN campus directly or determine the physical location where the forged documents were produced.
Nnaji is facing a six-count charge filed by the ICPC bordering on certificate forgery, false information, abuse of office, and money laundering involving approximately ₦29.58 million in ministerial remuneration. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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