Tinubu Forced Innovation Minister Uche Nnaji to Resign Over Certificate Forgery Scandal

Details of how President Tinubu forced Innovation Minister Uche Nnaji to resign over certificate forgery scandal.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that fresh details have emerged revealing that former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was compelled to resign following allegations of certificate forgery involving his university and NYSC credentials.

According to presidential aides, President Bola Tinubu personally summoned Nnaji to the Presidential Villa and directed him to step down amid the controversy.

ALSO: Court Orders Arrest of Former INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu

 

Nnaji’s troubles began after an investigation by Premium Times alleged that he forged his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and his NYSC certificate. The report revealed that, despite claiming to have graduated from UNN in 1985, the institution denied ever issuing him a certificate.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request, UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya confirmed in a letter dated October 2, 2025, that Nnaji never completed his studies and was not awarded a degree.

In an attempt to stop the university from releasing his records, Nnaji filed an ex parte motion at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to restrain UNN from tampering with his academic files. However, Justice Hausa Yilwa dismissed the application on September 22. Court documents also revealed that Nnaji admitted he had never collected his degree certificate, contradicting the one he submitted during his Senate screening in 2023.

Nnaji’s Response

After the revelations, Nnaji resigned on Monday, claiming the decision followed “deep reflection and consultations.” He said his resignation was to protect his integrity and prevent distractions to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These unfounded allegations have caused distress and unnecessary distractions. My decision to step aside is not an admission of guilt but a commitment to due process and ongoing judicial proceedings,” he stated.

Nnaji, appointed in August 2023, maintained that his reputation was built over five decades of “hard work, honour, and service.”

Inside the Presidency: Tinubu’s Directive

A senior source at the Presidency confirmed that Tinubu “asked him to resign” to save the government from further embarrassment.

“The President didn’t threaten to sack him. He simply told him to resign, and he had no option,” the aide said, adding that keeping Nnaji in office would have been a “liability” to the administration.

The source also noted that both the Senate and the Department of State Services (DSS) share responsibility for failing to detect the alleged forgery during vetting and confirmation.

Another presidential aide disclosed that Nnaji’s resignation was delayed because the university had initially confirmed his graduation before later retracting the claim in May and October 2025.

A DSS official, however, defended the agency’s role, insisting that it carried out its investigation diligently and may have been misled by the university’s earlier correspondence.

The scandal has renewed scrutiny over the government’s vetting processes and raised questions about institutional accountability in verifying academic credentials of public officials.