The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, Nnaji made the admission in court documents filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court filings confirm that Nnaji personally acknowledged not having been issued a certificate by the institution.
In his verifying affidavit supporting a motion ex parte, which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Nnaji recounted that he was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and claimed to have completed the programme in 1985. However, in paragraph 13 of the affidavit, he confessed that he had never collected any certificate from the university.
He stated, “That even though I am yet to collect my certificate from the 3rd Defendant (UNN), due largely to the non-cooperative attitude of the 3rd–5th Defendants (UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar), the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe) which stated amongst other things as follows: ‘This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.’”
The letter, signed by UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum and sent to the People’s Gazette, has since been invalidated.
In May 2025, Mrs Nnebedum wrote to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), stating that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Mr Nnaji’s name.
Similarly, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ortuanya, confirmed in a letter dated October 3, 2025 and addressed to PREMIUM TIMES that “Mr Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.”
A senior university official had told PREMIUM TIMES: “It is either some people in the records office were influenced or manipulated to cover up for Nnaji, or it was a sincere mistake by the registry.”
The official added: “The truth of the matter is that he (Mr Nnaji) never graduated from here. His file is intact. It contains details up to the point where he dropped out.”
By confessing that UNN never issued him a degree certificate, Mr Nnaji has validated PREMIUM TIMES’ finding that both the degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates he submitted for his ministerial appointment were forged.
According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the University of Nigeria has officially disowned the bachelor’s degree certificate being paraded by Mr. Nnaji, stating that he never graduated from the institution and was never issued such a document.
The report also stated that the NYSC has disowned the certificate being paraded by the minister, confirming that there is no record of any discharge certificate issued to him.
In his court motion, Mr Nnaji sought orders prohibiting UNN from “tampering with” his academic records and compelling the university to release his academic transcript.
Justice Yilwa granted three of the prayers but declined to issue any injunctive relief against the defendants. The case was adjourned to 6 October for further hearing.
