President Tinubu Accepts Resignation
Uche Nnaji has resigned from his post as Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology after facing allegations of certificate forgery. The controversy centers on claims that Nnaji submitted fraudulent academic and NYSC credentials during his ministerial confirmation process with President Bola Tinubu and the Senate. Nnaji was appointed to the cabinet in August 2023.
An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Nnaji allegedly did not complete his university education and that both his bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate were forged. These documents were reportedly presented to President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Senate.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced on Tuesday that President Tinubu has accepted Nnaji’s resignation. In his resignation letter, Nnaji expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve and claimed he had been the target of political blackmail. President Tinubu, in response, thanked Nnaji for his service and wished him success in his future endeavors.
Prior to his resignation, Nnaji sought a court order to prevent the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), from releasing his academic records. However, on September 22, a federal high court in Abuja, presided over by Judge Hausa Yilwa, denied his request for an injunction. The judge found that while Nnaji had a legitimate interest in the matter, the request to block UNN from sharing the records could not be granted. The court’s decision emphasized that it did not prohibit any party from carrying out its lawful duties and was made after reviewing arguments from Nnaji’s legal team and supporting affidavits.
