By Rapheal

Copyright thesun

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

On the heels of a raging allegations of certificate forgery against him, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, has asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to stop the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN), it’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and the Senate of the University from tampering with his academic records.

In a motion marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/1909/2025, Nnaji through his counsel, Prof. Sabastine Hon (SAN) is further pressing for an order of the court, for mandamus compelling the respondents to release his academic transcript at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The motion that was brought pursuant to order 34 rules 1-8 of the Federal High Court (Rules), sections 6 (6) (b) and 251 (1) (r) of the 1999 constitution, the applicant is equally seeking an order of mandamus compelling the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to ensure, utilizing their supervisory disciplinary powers, that the University of Nigeria Nsukka, it’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar of the university and the Senate of the school, release his academic records to him.

Before now, Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa had after listening to counsel to the Minister, Sabastine Hon, granted an order granting him leave to issue the prerogative writ of prohibition on the respondents from tampering with or continuing to tamper with his academic records at the UNN.

According to the certified true copy of the enroll order dated September 26, 2025, Justice Yilwa further granted leave to the applicant to issue the prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the respondents to release to the applicant his academic transcript at the University.

That an order is made granting leave to the applicant to issue the prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to ensure, utilizing their supervisory disciplinary powers, that the University of Nigeria Nsukka, it’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar of the university and the Senate of the school, release his academic records to him.

Allegations of certificate forgery have surrounded Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Bola Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as Mr Tinubu began to form his cabinet, two months after taking office on May 29, 2023.

His critics insist that he did not complete his university education and that both the bachelor’s degree and the NYSC certificate he presented to President Tinubu, as well as the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Nigerian Senate, are counterfeit.

The allegations became weighty when the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate in his possession, saying the politician did not complete his studies at the institution and was never issued a certificate.

Specifically, the vice-chancellor of UNN, stated that although Mr. Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.

“From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.”