The Minister of Innovation, Science and Expertise, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has accused the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, of masterminding allegations of certificates forgery leveled in opposition to him.
Talking in Abuja by his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, the Minister described the allegation as a politically motivated witch-hunt aimed toward discrediting him forward of the governor’s alleged plan to hitch the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Mbah desires Nnaji out of his approach. He has given a brand new title to all his issues. He’s searching for a second time period in workplace, and the one technique to obtain that is to get Nnaji out of the best way. He desires to hitch APC, however understanding that Nnaji is there, he isn’t snug,” Ngwu alleged.
An internet platform had earlier reported that Nnaji solid the College of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) certificates he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nationwide Meeting throughout his ministerial screening.
Reacting, the Minister urged the UNN authorities to uphold their integrity and resist political manipulation by reaffirming the authenticity of their official information.
“This isn’t nearly one man’s tutorial report; it’s about defending reality, preserving institutional honour, and guaranteeing that no college in Nigeria turns into a pawn in partisan politics,” he said.
Ngwu maintained that Nnaji graduated from UNN in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science diploma in Microbiology/Biochemistry, a truth mirrored within the college’s official information and its 1985 convocation brochure.
He cited a letter issued by the college on December 21, 2023, throughout Nnaji’s ministerial screening, confirming that “Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration quantity 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to check Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Decrease Division.”
In accordance with Ngwu, the letter stays the one genuine communication from UNN on the matter.
He, nevertheless, alleged that one other letter surfaced in Could 2025, purportedly from the college, claiming that there have been no information of Nnaji’s commencement — a growth he attributed to political interference.
He additional accused the Vice Chancellor of UNN of being a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) allegedly performing on the governor’s instruction to tarnish the Minister’s picture.
Ngwu additionally disclosed that the Minister had approached the court docket when he bought wind of makes an attempt to tamper together with his tutorial file.
He stated that on September 22, the court docket granted an injunction restraining the college’s administration from altering his information and issued an order of mandamus compelling the discharge of his tutorial transcript — which, in accordance with him, the varsity has refused to obey.
“Quite than adhering to the legitimate court docket order, the Vice Chancellor, a lawyer by occupation, resorted to cyberbullying and politically motivated media trial in opposition to the Minister,” Ngwu stated.
He added that the whole episode was politically pushed: “It’s more and more clear that this complete difficulty just isn’t about schooling or integrity however about political desperation disguised as tutorial inquiry.
“The timing, the sources, the false paperwork, and the paid narratives all level to a coordinated marketing campaign to tug a good public servant into the mud of partisan politics.”
