Forgery Scandal Rocks Tinubu’s Cabinet: Science Minister Uche Nnaji Admits UNN Never Issued Him Degree Certificate

A major scandal has erupted in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet as the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has admitted under oath that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate — casting a shadow of forgery over his academic and political credibility.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, the revelation came in court filings before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Mr. Nnaji is battling a suit against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar, and the institution’s Senate.

In his verifying affidavit supporting a motion ex parte, the embattled minister admitted that despite being admitted into UNN in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and claiming to have completed the program in 1985, he never collected any certificate from the university.

Mr. Nnaji stated:

> “That even though I am yet to collect my certificate from the 3rd Defendant (UNN), due largely to the non-cooperative attitude of the 3rd–5th Defendants, the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette … confirming that I graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry.”

The University of Nigeria, in a letter dated October 3, 2025, and signed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ortuanya, flatly denied that Mr. Nnaji ever completed his studies.

“Mr. Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university,” the Vice-Chancellor affirmed.

In May 2025, Registrar Nnebedum also wrote to the Public Complaints Commission, confirming that after combing through the 1985 graduation records, the minister’s name was nowhere to be found.

A senior university official went further, telling PREMIUM TIMES:

> “The truth of the matter is that he (Mr Nnaji) never graduated from here. His file is intact. It contains details up to the point where he dropped out.”

By his own admission that UNN never issued him a certificate, Mr. Nnaji has inadvertently validated investigative reports that both the degree and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate he presented for his ministerial appointment were forged.

The NYSC has also publicly disowned the certificate paraded by the minister, insisting there is no record of any discharge certificate issued in his name.

In his court motion, Mr. Nnaji asked the court to compel UNN to release his academic transcript and prevent the university from “tampering with” his records. Justice Yilwa granted some of the prayers but refused to restrain the defendants from taking action on the matter. The case has been adjourned to October 6 for further hearing.

This scandal raises fresh questions about the integrity checks within President Tinubu’s cabinet and could trigger renewed calls for the minister’s resignation or dismissal.