The Pathfinder
Tuesday October 7, 2025
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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for retaining the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, despite revelations that the certificates he presented for his appointment were allegedly forged.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it was “not surprised” by Tinubu’s silence, describing it as evidence of the administration’s tolerance for corruption and deceit.
The statement followed public reports confirming that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had disowned the certificates submitted by Nnaji.
“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 subsequently admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions and may have been forged,” Abdullahi stated.
The party described the situation as a national disgrace, especially for a ministry responsible for driving innovation and research. It said the retention of a minister with “tainted credentials” undermines the government’s credibility.
“The APC government has had a long, public, and familiar record of certificate-related scandals and questionable academic claims among top officials. These recurring scandals reflect a party foundationally accommodating deceit and unbothered by basic ethical considerations,” the ADC added.
Investigations by Premium Times revealed that the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that while Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, records show that he did not graduate. The NYSC also described the certificate of national service paraded by the minister as “strange” and unverifiable.
The ADC argued that the Tinubu administration’s refusal to act makes it complicit in the scandal.
“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 making a mockery of its claim to fighting corruption,” the statement read.
The party demanded immediate suspension of Nnaji and called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
“If found guilty, he should not only be dismissed with ignominy but also prosecuted for forgery and perjury. Certificate forgery is not a clerical error; it is a crime,” Abdullahi declared.
The ADC also criticised the Senate and the Department of State Services (DSS) for failing in their vetting duties during the ministerial screening process, urging them to review their procedures to restore public trust.
The controversy surrounding Minister Nnaji, the ADC concluded, is symptomatic of the moral decay within the current administration.
“Our country is blessed with competent and qualified minds. Yet, this government found suitable for appointment a man whose claim to higher education is now in question,” the statement added.
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