President Bola Tinubu reportedly ordered the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, following allegations that he forged his university and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
Sources in the Presidency told Saturday PUNCH that Tinubu personally invited Nnaji to the Presidential Villa, where he was asked to resign immediately to avoid further embarrassment to the government.
“The President invited him over to the Villa and asked him to resign. He was not threatened with a sack because the President appointed him and had every right to ask him to leave,” a senior aide said.
Nnaji’s troubles began after an investigation by Premium Times alleged that he forged his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and his NYSC certificate. The report claimed that the former minister did not complete his university education.
The newspaper had filed a Freedom of Information request to UNN asking for his academic records. In response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said in a letter dated October 2, 2025, that the university did not issue Nnaji’s degree certificate because he never completed his studies.
In reaction, Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the court to stop the university from releasing or tampering with his records. However, Justice Hausa Yilwa dismissed his request on September 22.
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Soon after, Nnaji resigned, saying he wanted to protect his integrity and prevent distractions for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“These unfounded allegations and media distortions have caused personal distress and have begun to distract from the vital work of the ministry,” he said in his resignation statement.
“My decision to quit is not an admission of guilt but a step to uphold due process and protect my name, built over five decades of service and honour.”
But sources confirmed that the resignation was not voluntary. A top aide explained that the President’s team had advised Tinubu to act quickly to protect the administration’s image.
“The President asked him to resign because he had become an embarrassment and a distraction. The longer it dragged, the worse it became. It’s not something that could be swept under the carpet,” the aide said.
The Presidency also defended the Department of State Services (DSS), which was accused of failing to detect the alleged forgery during its background checks.
“We cannot blame only the DSS. What about the Senate that screened him? They should have verified the certificates too,” another presidential aide said.
He added that confusion from the university contributed to the delay in resolving the matter.
“At one point, UNN confirmed that he graduated, but later changed its position. That inconsistency made the issue more complicated,” he said.
A DSS official, who spoke anonymously, also defended the agency, insisting that it had done its job properly.
“People blaming the DSS don’t know what happened behind the scenes. We acted with due diligence,” the official said.
The scandal has sparked fresh debate about vetting and screening processes for political appointees in Nigeria, with many calling for tighter checks to prevent similar controversies in the future.