Tinubu's Cabinet Member Nnaji Resigns as Science Minister Amid Certificate Forgery Saga
- Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, Nigeria's minister of innovation, science and technology, has finally resigned
- Nnaji, who was appointed in 2023, announced his resignation in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- Two different media investigations exposed Nnaji for allegedly forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and university certificates
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has more than 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.
Enugu, Enugu state - Uche Nnaji, Nigeria's minister of innovation, science, and technology, has finally resigned from his role.
Legit.ng reports that presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development on Tuesday night, October 7.
Source: Twitter
Uche Nnaji as minister
In a statement, Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu accepted Nnaji's resignation and thanked the Enugu-born politician for his 'service to Nigeria'.
The presidency's statement reads:
"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.
"He resigned today (Tuesday, October 7, 2025) in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.
"President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours."
Uche Nnaji alleges blackmail
Meanwhile, the presidency said Nnaji insisted that he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents, defending the authenticity of his University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka degree.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, Nnaji said records from UNN confirmed that he graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry, Second Class Honours, lower division.
He described reports denying his graduation as false, malicious, and politically driven, alleging that the controversy began after opposition figures took key positions within the university.
Source: UGC
Nnaji disclosed that the federal high court in Abuja has issued protective orders restraining the university from tampering with his records and directing the release of his academic transcript.
He urged UNN to uphold its motto, “to restore the dignity of man”, and resist being used for partisan purposes.
Media reports indict Uche Nnaji
A recent investigation by Premium Times showed that Nnaji allegedly forged the credentials he submitted to President Tinubu and the Nigerian senate during his ministerial confirmation.
Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged Nnaji since 2023 when Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the senate as part of the president’s initial cabinet list.
Critics have long insisted that Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to President Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the senate, were forged.
Premium Times and Peoples Gazette said its probe of Nnaji's documents were incriminating and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the minister’s possession are outright forgeries.
On Sunday, October 5, it emerged that Nnaji confirmed that the UNN never issued him any certificate.
Following the investigation, Nigerians expressed outrage, saying the minister should be arrested and prosecuted.
Court rejects Nnaji’s request
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a federal high court in Abuja ruled against Nnaji. The minister had asked the court to stop the UNN from releasing his academic records.
The motion sought to compel UNN to release his academic transcript.
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Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
