More details have emerged on the resignation of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the embattled minister was ordered to resign following allegations of certificate forgery against him.
Nnaji was accused of forging his BSc and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.

The former minister claimed to have obtained his degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, in 1985 — a claim the university denied.

Presidential aides told Saturday PUNCH that President Bola Tinubu invited Nnaji to the Presidential Villa, where he was directed to resign.

The scandal

Nnaji’s ordeal began when Premium Times published an investigation alleging that he forged his degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to the President and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The online publication maintained that Nnaji did not complete his university education.

Premium Times, through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to UNN, asked the university to release Nnaji’s academic records.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, informed Premium Times that UNN did not issue Nnaji’s certificate, as he had not completed his studies.

The ex-minister then approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop UNN from releasing his academic records.

Nnaji, through an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, asked the court to restrain the university from releasing or tampering with his academic records.

In court documents filed in the suit, Nnaji admitted that he had yet to collect his degree certificate — contrary to his earlier submission of a certificate during his ministerial screening.

Justice Hausa Yilwa, in a ruling delivered on September 22, dismissed Nnaji’s request.

Resignation

Following the publication of his open admission, Nnaji resigned his ministerial appointment.

He said the decision was taken to protect his integrity and prevent distractions to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, his resignation followed “an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks” targeted at his person and office over the past week.