According to Premium Times, Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is the subject of a formal inquiry by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on alleged certificate forgery.
The inquiry follows a two-year investigation by Premium Times, which was originally reported in October 2025 and found that Nnaji had falsified his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates and degree when he was confirmed as a minister in 2023. Three days after the report was made public, the discoveries caused him to resign from his position.
The ICPC has written to the Nigerian Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, requesting copies of the documentation Nnaji provided to justify his appointment as a minister, according to people acquainted with the matter who spoke to Premium Times.
According to one insider, “the anti-graft agency… also contacted the Nigerian Senate for the same purpose.”
The former minister may be charged under Nigerian law with forgery and related offenses if the inquiry supports the claims.
ICPC Investigators See UNN Registrar and VC
Concern has also been raised about the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the university at the heart of the dispute. UNN registrant Celine Nnebedum reportedly appeared before ICPC inspectors to defend the organization’s stance.
Regarding Nnaji’s academic background, Nnebedum had previously made contradictory claims in responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. She informed a different newspaper in 2024 that Nnaji graduated in 1985 after being enrolled in 1981.
She later recanted, stating that the institution was unable to find his name in the graduation records for the 1985 session, in a separate answer to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025.
Later, on October 6, 2025, UNN’s Senior Deputy Registrar (Records), F.C. Achiuwa, wrote a letter on Nnebedum’s behalf, confirming that Nnaji never received a degree and did not finish his studies.
Professor Simon Ortuanya, the university’s vice-chancellor, previously wrote that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never graduated or received a degree certificate. This stance is consistent with that letter.
ICPC Requests More Records
According to an ICPC source, the commission had written to UNN to request explanation, and the registrar had replied; however, investigators requested further documents for more confirmation.
It is uncertain if the needed paperwork have been sent in since then. ICPC spokesperson John Odey said he was on leave and declined to comment when called on Thursday.
“I won’t be able to confirm it until I return to the office next week,” he remarked. Maybe I can address your questions if you give me a call back on Monday afternoon.
Nnaji allegedly filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja in an attempt to stop UNN and its vice-chancellor from disclosing his academic records after the first Premium Times exposé in October 2023.
He named a number of defendants in the lawsuit, including UNN, its vice-chancellor, registrar, National Universities Commission, Minister of Education, and the university’s Senate.
But before the lawsuit, UNN’s vice-chancellor had previously confirmed that Nnaji had falsified his degree certificate in response to the newspaper’s FOI request. Although he was admitted, the university registrar later confirmed that he never received a diploma or a degree.
The NYSC authorities denied having the discharge certificate that Nnaji was purportedly in possession of in a different FOI response.
