The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for retaining Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, despite mounting allegations that the academic certificates he submitted for his ministerial appointment were forged.
The development follows a PREMIUM TIMES investigation, which revealed that Mr. Nnaji neither completed his university education nor legitimately earned the degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to the presidency, the Senate, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The controversy deepened after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Mr. Nnaji’s attempt to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) from releasing his academic records, clearing the way for public scrutiny.
ADC’s Reaction
In a statement issued on Monday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the Tinubu administration for what he described as “tolerance for corruption,” insisting that the president’s silence on the matter was a disservice to the nation.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is not surprised that despite mounting evidence and public outrage, the minister of science, technology and innovation, Mr. Uche Nnaji, remains in office after being accused, and even admitting, that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions and may have been forged,” Abdullahi said.
He lamented that a ministry saddled with the responsibility of driving innovation, research, and national development is now being overseen by a public officer with questionable credentials.
Pattern of Forgery Allegations
The ADC further argued that the case of Mr. Nnaji is not isolated but part of what it called a “long and familiar trend” of certificate scandals linked to senior officials in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“These recurring scandals and the persistent stench of certificate forgery are indeed reflective of a party that is foundationally accommodating of deceit and clearly unbothered by basic ethical considerations,” Abdullahi added.
He questioned why the president has not taken decisive action, saying:
“If the minister is not honourable enough to resign, why is the Tinubu administration still keeping him in office? By refusing to act, the APC government is complicit in fraudulent conduct at the highest levels of leadership.”
ADC’s Demands
The opposition party called for the immediate suspension of the minister pending an independent investigation, stressing that if he is found guilty, he should face prosecution for forgery and perjury.
“Certificate forgery is not a clerical error; it is a crime. If proven, it must attract the full weight of the law,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC also urged the Senate and the DSS to urgently review their screening and vetting procedures for political appointees to prevent similar controversies in the future.
“A senate that has obliged itself unreservedly to the will of the president is liable to fail in its duty to the people,” the statement concluded.