Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the certificate forgery allegations against the recently resigned Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uchechukwu Nnaji, describing the development as a “national shame disguised as a voluntary resignation.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his cabinet, and the Department of State Services (DSS) must be held accountable for “condoning forgery as a state policy.” He further demanded an independent investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), beginning with the president himself.
Atiku said, “Tuesday’s resignation of Uche Nnaji has again exposed the deep moral crisis at the heart of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. What should ordinarily be a matter of national disgrace is now being disguised as a voluntary resignation, an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of this government.”
He stressed that Nnaji should not have been allowed the privilege of resignation but instead dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. According to him, by allowing Nnaji to quietly exit, the administration has once again shown that it “is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.”
Atiku also faulted the DSS, noting that the same agency that disqualified former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai over “security concerns” had cleared Nnaji. He said the agency’s failure of due diligence had embarrassed the nation and questioned how many other such individuals were holding key positions in government.
“This episode reflects a disturbing pattern that begins from the top,” Atiku stated. “President Tinubu himself has for years faced controversies about his identity, age, and academic records, from the Chicago State University saga to contradictory claims under oath. The world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria is led by a man who cannot credibly defend the authenticity of his own certificates.”
The former vice president added that when a leader of “questionable identity” governs, deception becomes the standard of administration. He accused Tinubu of institutionalising falsehood and setting a poor moral example for his ministers and aides.
“I, therefore, call for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the FEC, beginning with President Tinubu,” Atiku declared. “Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources.”
ADC Condemns Tinubu’s Handling of Nnaji Scandal, Calls for Prosecution
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged certificate forgery involving Nnaji, describing the ruling party as a “nest of certificate forgers.”
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said President Tinubu’s decision to merely accept Nnaji’s resignation was “weak and disappointing.”
According to Abdullahi, “The president’s action gives the impression that he is sympathetic to such behaviour. A government that claims to stand for integrity and transparency cannot afford to treat a criminal offence like forgery as a personal matter.”
The opposition party said it was appalled that the minister was allowed to resign quietly after admitting that the certificates he submitted were not issued by the relevant institutions. “This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life,” it said.
The ADC recalled that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had publicly disowned the certificates presented by Nnaji during his ministerial screening. Court filings by the minister himself, it noted, confirmed that UNN never awarded him a degree certificate.
“By simply accepting his resignation, President Tinubu has shown that his administration is willing to let corrupt officials off the hook and is not ready to set an example that dishonesty carries consequences,” the ADC added.
The party further accused the APC-led government of fostering a culture of deceit and protecting individuals of questionable integrity. “From one certificate scandal to another, Nigerians have watched the APC turn dishonesty into an identity, offering sanctuary to people with forged credentials,” it said.
The ADC also questioned President Tinubu’s credibility to lead an anti-corruption campaign, asking: “If the president cannot act firmly in such a clear case, how can Nigerians trust his government to fight corruption in any form?”
It, therefore, urged law enforcement agencies to launch an independent investigation into the forgery allegations, insisting that resignation does not absolve criminal liability. “Forgery is a crime. If found guilty, Nnaji should be prosecuted according to the law. Anything less will amount to a cover-up,” the party concluded.
CISLAC, HallowMace Foundation Demand Lifetime Ban on Nnaji
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for a lifetime ban from public office for Nnaji, saying the former minister was unrepentant and forced to resign under pressure from the public and civil society.
The HallowMace Foundation Africa, a non-governmental organisation promoting transparency, also condemned the scandal, blaming it on the “bow and go syndrome” in Senate confirmation processes and institutional failure by the DSS.
Both organisations urged the National Assembly and the DSS to apologise to Nigerians for the embarrassment caused by what they termed systemic failure.
CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said in a telephone interview that Nnaji’s resignation was not voluntary. “He was forced out by public pressure. He didn’t resign as an honourable man; he even went to court to stop the university from releasing his record. We should ban him from public office for life,” he stated.
In a joint statement, HallowMace Foundation’s Executive Director, Anderson Osiebe, and Head of Public Communications, Oguh Hyginus, said the Nigerian public deserves transparent institutions capable of preventing such fraud.
“The sequence of events in Minister Nnaji’s case exposes catastrophic failures in the verification systems designed to prevent such occurrences,” the statement said.
Nnaji Defends Resignation, Alleges Political Blackmail
Meanwhile, former Minister Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has explained that his resignation was due to “a sustained campaign of falsehood and politically motivated attacks” against him.
In a statement, Nnaji said the allegations caused personal distress and began to distract him from the work of his ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“As someone who has spent over five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work and honour, I cannot in good conscience allow these distractions to cast a shadow on the objectives of this administration,” he stated.
He insisted his decision to step aside was “a personal choice, not an admission of guilt,” but an effort to protect the integrity of the judicial process. “In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just,” he said.
Nnaji expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued support for his administration’s goals.
Nnaji’s resignation followed a Premium Times investigation alleging that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates during his 2023 ministerial screening.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, reportedly confirmed that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
President Tinubu has since accepted his resignation, with his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirming the development in a statement on Tuesday. Onanuga said Nnaji thanked the president for allowing him to serve and claimed to have been a target of blackmail by political opponents.
Nnaji was appointed Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology in August 2023.
