ADC joins HEDA to demand prosecution of Nnaji to deter rampant certificate forgeries by public officials
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“The APC has normalised deceit, turning it into a defining trait while providing refuge for individuals with dubious integrity and forged credentials.
“We are equally appalled that the minister was allowed to quietly resign after publicly admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life ….
“Forgery is a crime. If found guilty, Mr. Nnaji should be prosecuted. Anything less will amount to a cover-up” – ADC.
HEDA:
- Cited its petition to Tinubu and the Senate in June 2024 urging a probe into the forgery allegations and Nnaji’s suspension pending investigation, warnings that were ignored.
- Accused the DSS of negligence, alleging it failed to verify Nnaji’s credentials or deliberately suppressed evidence during security clearance.
- Lamented that “from Kemi Adeosun to Stella Oduah, and now Geoffrey Nnaji, this pattern of negligence has become too consistent to ignore.”
- Acknowledged Nnaji’s resignation as “necessary but belated,” but insisted that accountability must go beyond stepping down.
- Said “resignation does not erase the crime of forgery. Those who enabled this fraud within the Presidency, DSS, and Senate must also be held accountable.”
- Applauded PREMIUM TIMES its diligent investigation and exposure of the scandal.
- Asked Tinubu to order the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and prosecute the case in court.
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Uche Nnaji should not just resign as Bola Tinubu’s Minister and quietly go underground, he must be prosecuted for his alleged forgery of BSc degree and National Youth Service Corpse (NYSC) certificates, both the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) have demanded.
ADC accused the President’s All Progressives Congress (APC) of being a haven for certificate forgers that shields individuals with questionable academic records.
A statement issued by ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahim argued that Tinubu’s decision to simply accept the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology rather than ordering a full probe, suggests a continued lack of consequences for misconduct.
Nnaji resigned on October 7 following a two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES that exposed his alleged presentation a forged degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and an NYSC discharge certificate at his Senate ministerial screening in 2023.
The report says both UNN and the NYSC have denied issuing the certificates.
“The APC has normalised deceit, turning it into a defining trait while providing refuge for individuals with dubious integrity and forged credentials,” the ADC said.
“We are equally appalled that the minister was allowed to quietly resign after publicly admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life.”
The ADC urged law enforcement agencies to conduct an independent investigation into the matter, stressing that resignation does not absolve criminal liability.
“Forgery is a crime. If found guilty, Mr. Nnaji should be prosecuted. Anything less will amount to a cover-up.”
It also questioned Tinubu’s resolve to combat corruption, arguing that failure to act decisively in such a straightforward case undermines public confidence in his administration’s integrity drive.
Nnaji has countered that his resignation did not amount to an admission of guilt but a decision prompted by a “sustained campaign of falsehood” against him and his office.
“After deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians, I have tendered my resignation as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology to President Bola Tinubu,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He described the allegations as “politically motivated and malicious,” and he stepped aside to allow due process run its course.
“My decision to step aside is not an admission of guilt, but a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings currently before the court.”
HEDA decries “shameful institutional failure”
HEDA condemned the Presidency, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Senate for “gross dereliction of duty” in the appointment and confirmation of Nnaji despite clear red flags.
A statement signed by HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju described the incident as a “shameful institutional failure” that exposes the rot in Nigeria’s governance and vetting systems.
“It is disheartening that President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the DSS all ignored clear red flags and public outcry over Mr. Nnaji’s [allegedly] forged credentials,” Suraju stressed.
“This incident not only erodes public trust but reinforces the perception that corruption and impunity remain the operating principles within Nigeria’s political leadership.”
HEDA also:
- Cited its petition to Tinubu and the Senate in June 2024 urging a probe into the forgery allegations and Nnaji’s suspension pending investigation, warnings that were ignored.
- Accused the DSS of negligence, alleging it failed to verify Nnaji’s credentials or deliberately suppressed evidence during security clearance.
- Lamented that “from Kemi Adeosun to Stella Oduah, and now Geoffrey Nnaji, this pattern of negligence has become too consistent to ignore.”
- Acknowledged Nnaji’s resignation as “necessary but belated” but insisted that accountability must go beyond stepping down.
- Said “resignation does not erase the crime of forgery. Those who enabled this fraud within the Presidency, DSS, and Senate must also be held accountable.”
- Applauded PREMIUM TIMES its diligent investigation and exposure of the scandal.
- Asked Tinubu to order the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and prosecute the case in court.
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