Nnaji Resigns from Cabinet After Certificate Forgery Accusations

President Bola Tinubu has accepted the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, following allegations of certificate forgery against him.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Nnaji tendered his resignation in a letter expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve.

“He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria,” the statement read, adding that President Tinubu thanked the outgoing minister for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Presidency sources confirmed that the President had advised Nnaji to step down honourably rather than face dismissal, with the decision finalised on Tuesday evening at the State House in Abuja after consultations with key advisers.

Nnaji’s resignation comes just days after an investigative report alleged that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates during his ministerial nomination in 2023. The report claimed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the degree certificate he presented, stating that while he was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies or graduate.

A letter from the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, reportedly confirmed that Nnaji was not listed among the university’s graduates, contradicting an earlier 2023 letter from the school’s registrar that had affirmed his graduation.

The controversy deepened after Nnaji admitted in a court affidavit that the university never issued him a certificate, though he maintained he completed his studies.

In September, Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, UNN, and others, seeking to stop the university from tampering with his academic records. The case, which came up for hearing on Monday, is still ongoing.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Nnaji, represented by his spokesperson Dr. Robert Ngwu, described the allegations as politically motivated and denied any wrongdoing. He maintained that he earned a BSc in Microbiology/Biochemistry (Second Class Lower Division) from UNN in 1985 and accused the university of withholding his transcript for political reasons.

“It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity; it is about political desperation disguised as academic inquiry,” he said.

He presented what he described as evidence of his graduation, including a 1985 university brochure listing his name, “Nnaji Uchenna G,” alongside other graduates. His spokesperson also dismissed concerns about name discrepancies, explaining that variations in Igbo names are common and interchangeable.

Despite his defence, a senior government source described the matter as “an embarrassment” to the administration.

Nnaji becomes the eighth minister to leave President Tinubu’s cabinet since its inauguration in August 2023. His resignation follows a series of cabinet changes and suspensions, including that of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu, who was suspended in early 2024 amid an investigation into alleged financial irregularities.