Nigeria‘s Innovation minister Resigns Amid Credentials Forgery Allegations

Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, uche Nnaji, has resigned days after allegations emerged that he forged his academic credentials.

The resignation follows a newspaper inquiry claiming Nnaji submitted falsified certificates to President bola Tinubu during his ministerial appointment in 2023.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation in a post on X late on Tuesday, quoting the minister as saying he had been “a target of blackmail by political opponents.”

Nnaji has denied the accusations of forgery and insists he graduated from the University of nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry.

The forgery allegations have sparked outrage among some Nigerians, following a two-year investigation by the Premium Times newspaper.

Last week, UNN reportedly told the publication that it had no records confirming that the minister graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985, as he claimed.

A senior university official told the paper that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never completed his studies or received a certificate.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) also stated the mandatory certificate of national service Nnaji presented in April 2023 could not be verified.

Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the matter, stating Nnaji should have been “summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification.”