An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) denied issuing certificates allegedly presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The investigator, Yakubu Ibrahim, a superintendent of police and the prosecution’s first witness, gave the testimony on Monday during the trial of Nnaji, who is facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud, corruption and the provision of false information.
Ibrahim told the court that the ICPC investigated two petitions alleging certificate forgery against the former minister and sought to authenticate his purported bachelor’s degree certificate in microbiology and biochemistry from UNN and his NYSC discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986.
According to the witness, UNN responded that it did not issue the degree certificate attributed to Nnaji, while the NYSC also denied issuing the discharge certificate.
He further disclosed that the university supplied Nnaji’s academic records, including a withdrawal notice dated November 7, 1984, relating to a course in general microbiology.
Ibrahim said the university explained that students who failed to obtain the required grade after four attempts were not eligible to receive a degree.
However, during cross-examination by Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Nnaji, the investigator admitted that he did not personally visit UNN during the investigation and could not identify where the allegedly forged certificates were produced. He maintained that members of the investigating team had interviewed the university’s registrar.
The witness also explained that the commission did not investigate where Nnaji completed his national service because the NYSC had denied issuing the certificate.
“The NYSC said the certificate was not issued by it, which was why we didn’t inquire where he served,” he told the court.
During the cross-examination, Olanipekun suggested that a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985, had rescinded the university’s earlier withdrawal notice. Ibrahim agreed that the notice in question concerned general microbiology.
The investigator further told the court that ICPC officials invited Nnaji through email and WhatsApp after they were unable to locate his address. He said the former minister was arrested on July 1 after failing to honour the invitation and subsequently made statements to investigators on July 1 and 2.
At the conclusion of the cross-examination, the prosecution declined to re-examine the witness.
The presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, discharged Ibrahim and adjourned further hearing until November 3.
Nnaji was arraigned on July 13 and pleaded not guilty to all six counts filed against him by the ICPC.
