The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have denied issuing certificates attributed to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The testimony was given on Monday by Superintendent of Police Yakubu Ibrahim, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former minister over alleged certificate forgery and related offences.
Ibrahim told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the ICPC began investigating the matter after receiving two petitions alleging that Nnaji presented fraudulent academic and national service credentials.
According to the witness, the commission contacted the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, UNN and the NYSC to verify the documents allegedly submitted by Nnaji during his ministerial screening in 2023.
He said the Clerk of the Senate forwarded the former minister’s Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry, alongside an NYSC discharge certificate, to the commission for investigation.
Ibrahim told the court that the NYSC responded that it did not issue the discharge certificate attributed to Nnaji. He added that UNN also denied issuing the degree certificate.
The investigator further said the university provided academic records indicating that Nnaji had not obtained the grades required for the award of the degree. He told the court that the university’s grading policy disqualified students who failed an examination four times from receiving a certificate.
However, during cross-examination, Nnaji’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, challenged aspects of the investigation. Ibrahim admitted that he did not personally visit UNN and could not identify where the allegedly forged certificates were produced.
The defence also drew attention to correspondence indicating that an earlier university notice withdrawing Nnaji’s admission had subsequently been rescinded in March 1985.
The witness acknowledged the relevant documents, while the court admitted the prosecution’s exhibits, ruling that objections to their admissibility could be addressed at the final stage of proceedings.
Ibrahim also testified that documents obtained from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation led investigators to request Nnaji’s bank statement. According to him, the statement showed that the former minister received approximately ₦29.5 million in salaries before leaving office.
The ICPC has filed a six-count charge against Nnaji bordering on alleged certificate forgery, fraud, money laundering and abuse of office. The former minister has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court adjourned the case for further hearing in November as the prosecution prepares to continue presenting its evidence.
The allegations remain before the court, which is yet to determine the case.
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