Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uchechukwu Geoffrey Nnaji, following growing controversy surrounding the authenticity of his academic credentials.
Effiong’s call comes amid revelations from a letter issued by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Professor Simon Ortuanya, who stated that there were no records showing that the minister graduated from the institution in 1985 as claimed.
In the letter addressed to Premium Times in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, Professor Ortuanya wrote:
“We can confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981.
From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No. RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter.”
The statement from the university has intensified public scrutiny and calls for accountability.
Appearing as a guest on Channels Television on Monday, Effiong demanded that President Tinubu suspend the minister without delay to allow for an impartial investigation into the alleged forgery.
“This minister must be immediately suspended pending the conclusion of investigation,” he said. “He has to surrender himself tomorrow morning to the police for investigation for forgery. Otherwise, they will be telling Nigerians that they’re running a government of certificate forgers — that we’re running a government of criminality.”
The fiery lawyer stressed that while the allegation remains unproven, the federal government must demonstrate its commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
“The allegation remains an allegation,” Effiong noted, “but the government must show willingness to investigate it, to address it. We can’t have a minister of Innovation whose innovation is now being linked to alleged certificate forgery. A minister of Technology, whose technological skill is being now purportedly activated to forgery.”
Effiong described the development as a national embarrassment, urging President Tinubu to act swiftly to protect the integrity of his administration.
“This is an embarrassment to our country,” he said. “President Tinubu has an opportunity to tell Nigerians that he’s not running a cartel — that this is truly a government that cares about the law.”
The controversy over Minister Nnaji’s academic records continues to spark public debate, with many calling for an independent probe to verify the authenticity of the documents he presented.
