The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly opened an investigation into the certificate forgery scandal of a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
Mr. Uche Nnaji allegedly falsified his degree and NYSC documents, which he presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023, according to a laborious two-year investigation that was reported in October of 2025.
The lawmaker resigned as minister just three days following the investigation.
Since Mr. Uche Nnaji had broken several Nigerian laws, including the Criminal Code Act, many Nigerians had demanded that he be prosecuted and that his resignation was insufficient.
Fresh trouble
Sources familiar with the information revealed that the ICPC wrote to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume, demanding the documents Uche Nnaji submitted for his ministerial appointment.
It was also gathered that the Nigerian Senate was also called by the anti-graft bureau for the same reason.
According to insiders, if the investigation reveals that the former minister actually falsified his credentials, he might face legal action.
Although there are hints that both agencies have been in communication, PREMIUM TIMES was unable to verify whether the ICPC investigators had gotten in touch with NYSC authorities on the former minister’s forgery problem.
UNN registrar invited
According to additional sources, Celine Nnebedum, the registrar of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), came before EFCC investigators to explain the university’s stance on the credential fraud incident.
Responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) letter to the People’s Gazetteer newspaper in 2024, Mrs. Nnebedum stated that Mr. Nnaji was accepted into the university in 1981 and received his degree in 1985.
However, the registrar then recanted and told the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025 that the institution looked through its graduation records for the 1985 session but was unable to locate Mr. Uche Nnaji’s name. This was in response to a similar inquiry from the PCC.
Her most recent response is in line with an earlier letter to this newspaper from Simon Ortuanya, the university’s vice-chancellor, who also pointed out that despite Mr Nnaji’s admission in 1981, he never finished his studies and received a degree.
Similar to the registrar, Mr. Ortuanya’s letter, dated October 2, 2025, was sent in response to this newspaper’s FOI request to the institution, which asked for clarity on claims that the then-minister had forged certificates.
PREMIUM TIMES was told by a source with knowledge of the ICPC probe that the investigators had written to UNN to request clarifications regarding the certificate forgery case.
According to the source, the registrar was ordered to submit further documents even though she had already replied to the investigators.
It is unclear, for now, if the registrar has submitted the additional documents to the ICPC.
ICPC silent
When contacted on Thursday morning, the spokesperson of the ICPC, John Odey, said that he would not be able to comment on the development because he is currently on leave.
“Until I return to the office next week, I won’t be able to confirm it. If you call me back on Monday afternoon, I might be able to give you answers,” Mr Odey said.
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