ICPC Probes Ex‑Minister, Uche Nnaji Over Certificate Forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated a formal investigation into alleged certificate forgery involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, according to a report by Premium Times.

The probe comes after a painstaking two‑year investigation by Premium Times, first published in October 2025, which revealed that Nnaji allegedly forged his degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates submitted during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. The revelations triggered his resignation from office three days after the report went public.

Sources familiar with the development told Premium Times that the ICPC has written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and the Nigerian Senate, demanding copies of the documents Nnaji submitted in support of his ministerial appointment.

“The anti‑graft agency … also contacted the Nigerian Senate for the same purpose,” a source said.

If the investigation confirms the allegations, the former minister could face prosecution for forgery and related offences under Nigerian law.

The university at the centre of the controversy, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has also come under scrutiny. Celine Nnebedum, the registrar of UNN, is reported to have appeared before ICPC investigators to explain the institution’s position.

In earlier responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, Nnebedum had issued conflicting statements about Nnaji’s academic history. In 2024, she told another newspaper that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 and graduated in 1985.

However, in a separate response to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025, she recanted, saying the university could not locate his name in the graduation records for the 1985 session.

In a later letter dated 6 October 2025, signed by UNN’s Senior Deputy Registrar (Records) F.C. Achiuwa on behalf of Nnebedum, the university confirmed Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.

That position aligns with an earlier letter from the university’s Vice‑Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, who also stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not graduate and was not issued a degree certificate.

An ICPC source said the commission had written to UNN for clarification and that the registrar responded, but investigators demanded additional documents for further verification.

It is unclear whether the requested documents have since been submitted. When contacted on Thursday, the ICPC’s spokesperson, John Odey, declined to comment, saying he was on leave.

He said, “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.”

Following the initial Premium Times expose in October 2023, Nnaji reportedly filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, trying to prevent UNN and its vice‑chancellor from releasing his academic records.

In the suit, he named various defendants, including UNN, its registrar, its vice‑chancellor, the National Universities Commission, the Minister of Education, and the university’s Senate.

However, prior to the suit, UNN’s vice‑chancellor had already responded to the newspaper’s FOI request, confirming that Nnaji forged his degree certificate. The university registrar later corroborated that he was admitted but never graduated nor was awarded a certificate.

In a separate FOI response, the NYSC authorities disowned the discharge certificate reportedly held by Nnaji.