Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have called for a lifetime ban on former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, following revelations that he forged his academic certificates. CISLAC (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre) and HallowMace Foundation Africa condemned the scandal as an international embarrassment and criticized the National Assembly and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their failure to properly vet the minister during his confirmation process in 2023.
CISLAC's Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, stated that Nnaji's resignation was forced by public pressure and not an honorable decision, highlighting that Nnaji even went to court to prevent the release of his academic records. The groups stressed that this incident exposes serious weaknesses in Nigeria's vetting systems, raising concerns about the credibility of public office holders and demanding public apologies from government institutions responsible for the oversight.journalist101
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), confirmed that it has no record of awarding Nnaji a degree certificate in 1985, contradicting his claims made during his Senate screening and ministerial appointment. Investigations further revealed that both the bachelor's degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates he presented were forged. The forgery scandal has led to widespread outrage and calls for criminal prosecution, as Nigerian laws prescribe severe penalties, including possible life imprisonment, for such offenses.
Legal experts explain that under Nigerian law, forgery of certificates is a serious crime punishable by up to 21 years in prison, depending on the case specifics and applicable laws including the Criminal Code Act and the Miscellaneous Offenses Act. The case has sparked national debate on integrity and accountability within Nigerian governance and has revived memories of similar scandals involving other public officials.
Chief Uche Nnaji tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu on October 7, 2025, amid mounting pressure from the public and civil society groups. Despite his denial of the allegations and claims of being targeted by political opponents, the evidence and university statements have led to a loss of public trust and a strong demand for thorough investigations and punitive actions to deter future occurrences.