The allegation that Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, forged the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) he once claimed he possessed has drawn his reaction through the court.
Nnaji in the curriculum vitae
he submitted for screening to the National Assembly sequel to his ministerial nomination claimed to have BSc in Microbiology/Biochemistry from UNN, and observed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in Jos, the Plateau State.
Subsequently, a news media, Premium Times, put the lie to the minister’s account and claimed that he dropped out from the University.
The refutal is in syn with a report by People’s Gazette, another news medium.
However, a claim by a registrar of UNN which has now been recanted had it that Nnaji graduated from the institution.
The latest in the saga, as per Daily Trust is that the minister said UNN didn’t award him certificate.
This he reportedly declared in a court filings arising from a case he instituted against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a professor, its Registrar, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguenjiofor Ujam, a professor and the Senate of the University.
The publication extract reads below:
In the suit before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Mr Nnaji sought, through a motion ex parte, an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting UNN and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records.
He also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him, and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.
Additionally, Mr Nnaji requested an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In her ruling of 22 September, Justice Yilwa granted three of the prayers sought but declined to issue any injunctive order against the defendants. The case was then adjourned to 6 October (Monday) for further hearing.
Those familiar with the matter said Mr Nnaji initiated the case to block the university from releasing details of his academic sojourn in the institution to anyone, including PREMIUM TIMES.
According to the report, he is also said to desire a transcript to refresh his memory regarding where he dropped out of university.
However, in paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, Mr Nnaji made a stunning revelation, accusing UNN officials of refusing to issue him a certificate and, in the process, confirming that he never collected one.
In paragraph 12, he stated that the university admitted him in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, and that he completed the programme and “graduated” in 1985.
But paragraph 13 contained the explosive admission:
“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 (UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar), the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe) which stated amongst other things as follows:
“This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.’
The letter, signed by UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum, was sent to the People’s Gazette in response to an enquiry. But its contents have since been invalidated.
Mrs Nnebedum later recanted in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025, stating that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Mr Nnaji’s name.
Similarly, UNN Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya confirmed in a letter dated 3 October 2025 and addressed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.
A senior university official told PREMIUM TIMES that the institution investigated Mrs Nnebedum’s letter and concluded that: “It is either some people in the records office were influenced or manipulated to cover up for Nnaji, or it was a sincere mistake by the registry.”
The official added: “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.”
