ICPC Witness: NYSC, UNN Disowned Ex-Minister Nnaji’s Certificates

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Yakubu Ibrahim, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that both the University of Nigeria (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned the certificates presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, during his 2023 ministerial screening.

Testifying as the first prosecution witness in the six-count trial against Nnaji, Ibrahim said the ICPC received petitions alleging certificate forgery and launched an investigation.

He explained that the commission wrote to UNN to verify the Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry allegedly submitted by Nnaji, but the university confirmed it had not issued such a certificate.

Similarly, the NYSC disowned a discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986, stating it was never issued to the former minister. Ibrahim added that UNN provided the defendant’s academic records, including a notice of withdrawal over poor grades.

The witness told the court that investigators invited Nnaji for questioning but later had to involve the EFCC to secure his arrest after he failed to respond.

He confirmed that Nnaji made statements on July 1 and 2, though he did not comment on the allegations.During cross-examination, defence counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) challenged the investigation, noting that Ibrahim did not personally visit UNN or establish where the alleged forgery took place.

Ibrahim admitted he relied on correspondence with the university’s Registrar and confirmed seeing a withdrawal notice dated November 7, 1984.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026, continues before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who adjourned further hearing until November 3.Nnaji, who resigned as minister following the scandal, did not include the disputed degree certificate in his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filings ahead of the 2027 elections, where he is contesting as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Enugu State.