Explosive Revelations: UNN Disowns Tinubu’s Minister Over Forged Degree — A Deep Dive into Nigeria’s Latest Certificate Scandal
In a bombshell disclosure that is already sending political shockwaves across Nigeria, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has formally denied ever awarding the Bachelor of Science degree that Minister Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has long paraded as his own. The university’s admission — made in a letter signed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya — confirms that although Nnaji was once admitted to UNN in 1981, he never completed his course of study nor was he ever issued a degree certificate.
This stunning turn of events marks a culmination of more than two years of investigative reporting by Premium Times, which has closely scrutinized Nnaji’s academic and NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) credentials.
📌 What the University Said
In the crucial letter dated October 2, 2025, UNN’s VC responded to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, stating:
> “We are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated … there are no records of his completion of studies … the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT … issue the purported certificate in July 1985.”
It is especially striking because in earlier correspondence, the university had taken a different position. In December 2023, the then-Registrar, Celine Nnebedum, had initially claimed that Nnaji graduated in July 1985. But by mid-2025, she retracted that statement during a Public Complaints Commission process, acknowledging that no such record could be found.
These reversals underscore serious institutional dissonance — and now, with the Vice Chancellor’s direct statement, the matter seems to have been laid to rest: there is no legitimate evidence that the degree certificate held by Nnaji originated from UNN.
🔍 How the Scandal Unfolded
Historical Roots & Whistleblower Tips
The certificate controversy did not begin today. As far back as mid-2023, whistleblowers flagged inconsistencies in Nnaji’s academic claims shortly after he was nominated as a minister under President Tinubu’s administration. From that point, journalists and civic monitors began digging, ultimately triggering a two-year forensic investigation.
Forensic Red Flags in NYSC & Degree Certificates
Investigators found multiple glaring anomalies when comparing the documents Nnaji presented to known standards:
The NYSC certificate dated May 15, 1986 carries the signature of Col. Animashaun Braimoh, who did not serve as director until 1988 — a temporal impossibility.
The document uses the title “National Director,” a designation that did not exist in the NYSC at the time.
Its certificate number is A231309, indicating an alphanumeric pattern. Researchers noted that NYSC certificates from the 1980s used purely numeric identifiers — alphabetic prefixes were introduced only in the 1990s.
Even the period of service is flawed: the document claims a 13-month duration (April 1985 to May 1986), whereas statutory service is strictly 12 months.
On the academic side, Nnaji claims a July 1985 graduation. Yet his NYSC service supposedly began in April 1985 — meaning he was mobilized to serve before even finishing his degree. That scenario has never occurred in Nigeria’s academic or NYSC history.
Putting together the discrepancies from both documents, forensic analysts concluded that Nnaji’s credentials are inconsistent, contradictory, and likely fabricated.
UNN’s Internal Testimony
On the ground in Nsukka, multiple university staff revealed that Nnaji failed to complete crucial courses — including Virology (MCB 431AB) — and was repeatedly absent during exam retakes. At one point, the institution reportedly urged him to withdraw altogether.
A chilling piece of evidence: Nnaji himself, in a letter dated May 1, 1986, begged UNN to allow him to sit an outstanding “terminal course” in September of that year. That letter effectively admits he had not completed graduation by mid-1985 — yet that is the very date he claims to have earned his degree.
Further validation of this discrepancy comes from the Order of Proceedings for UNN’s 1985 Convocation: Nnaji’s name is not on the list of graduates.
⚖️ Legal, Political & Institutional Fallout
These revelations raise urgent questions about accountability and public trust:
Legal Consequences
Under Nigerian law, submission of forged documents for public office is a criminal offense. Penalties can include removal from office, prosecution, and jail time. If formally charged, Nnaji may face disqualification and serious legal jeopardy.
Political Risks & Institutional Lapses
How did Nnaji pass multiple vetting stages — from presidential nomination to agency clearance, the Civil Service, the Senate, and DSS checks — without his credentials being properly verified? The scandal could trigger broader institution-wide audits of public officeholders’ records.
Institutional Integrity & Reputation
For UNN, the episode is a reputational black mark. Its earlier contradictory statements raise questions of internal governance and verification procedures, especially over its handling of academic records. The reversal by the VC may be an attempt to restore institutional integrity, but damage has been done.
Public Trust Crisis
For Nigerians already skeptical of their institutions, the notion that a cabinet-level minister operated on forged credentials is deeply corrosive. It amplifies existing tensions about corruption, impunity, and the accountability of elites in public service.
🧭 Next Developments to Watch
1. Official Response from the Presidency / Minister — As of this writing, Nnaji has remained silent and the government has not issued a substantive statement.
2. Criminal Charges or Ethical Proceedings — Will the EFCC, ICPC or relevant agencies rise to the occasion?
3. Parliamentary or Institutional Probe — The National Assembly could inaugurate an oversight inquiry committee.
4. Broader Credential Audits — This case may spark verification drives of academic and NYSC credentials across government offices.
5. Media & Civil Society Reaction — The public and press will likely maintain pressure demanding full transparency and consequences.
📰 Final Thoughts
This is more than just a controversy — it is a profound institutional test. That a minister might have deceived the public and the government for years, operating under counterfeit credentials, shakes the foundations of merit-based governance. With UNN now explicitly disowning the certificate, there is no middle ground: either the minister is compelled to resign and face justice, or Nigeria must risk a deeper erosion of accountability in public office.
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