By Dr. Joel Ademisoye, United States
Some Nigerians, like the former Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, no de shame sha! You might recalled that Nnaji, quietly resigned from his position as a minister in the President Tinubu administration and cabinet in October 7, 2025, over the allegations of fake and forged university degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka, Nigeria and NYSC certificate as well. It must be mentioned that Nnaji was a fugitive from the law, because failed to honor the several invitations to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC). But, invariably, the law dragnet caught up with Nnaji, when he was arrested by the DSS at the Nnamid Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Out of curiosity for this writer, where was Nnaji heading to, may be to a foreign country? But, it should be mentioned that Nnaji is released from the detention on a whopping bail amount of N20 million.
I vividly recalled that the university Vice Chancellor issued a letter to deny that the UNN issued the certificate in the possession of the former minister, Nnaji. That was the last time that I read about Nnaji’s university scandal saga, but the issue of the Nnaji.’s certificates forgery, remains under investigation by the federal government, which employed Nnaji as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, for many Nigerians, if Nnaji has nothing to hide, why is he playing the ‘hide and seek game’ with the ICPC several invitations to appear before it?
Does it means that the federal government has reached out of court settlement with Nnaji, to end the certificates forgery case before the ICPC? Having read the recent newspaper report, where Nnaji down played the serious nature of his university and NYSC certificates forgery case, claiming that an arrest isn’t a proof of guilt and he was in court to do some clarifications to the court. I am indeed flabbergasted that surprised to read about Nnaji’s comments that the certificate forgery case against him, isn’t a criminal case rather it is a civil suit, which he is trying to settle out of court. I think the Nnaji’s comments and claims about his forgery scandal and case, before the ICPC, are designed strategy and the public propaganda tool, to pull the wools over the eyes of the Nigerian citizens.
It seems that Nnaji is moving past the university and NYSC certificates forgery without a true and legal ending to the forgery saga. Honestly speaking, Nnaji’s comments and public statements about his case are shifting the goal posts and confusing.
Moreover, I see other issues with the Nnaji’s university and NYSC certificates forgery, which involves the lack of transparency, accountability and credibility before the ICPC trial in Abuja, because the former minister is dousing water on the serious nature of the forgery case before the anti- graft agency, by merely referring to it as a civil matter, which requires some clarifications. Also, he revealed the plan to settle the case out of court (Source: Our Heritagereporters, “Arrest not proof of guilt ex-minister Nnaji dismisses academic records reports”, July 8, 2026.). Having read about the Nnaji’s public comments, I am not sure what is the true status of his certificates forgery case before the ICPC? For example, Nnaji presented his certificates forgery case to the Nigerian people as a civil suit instead of a criminal case. But, my research into the ICPC’s past university degree and NYSC certificates forgery cases revealed to be the contrary as claims by Nnaji. Unequivocally, the certificate forgery cases before and treated by the government anti-graft agency, ICPC, – all are referred to and treated as criminal cases.
But, today, the former minister is on the offensive on the issue of his alleged forged university and NYSC certificates, saying that an arrest is no proof of guilt. That, he plans to settle his certificates forgery case against him out of court. Remember that Nigeria is a country, where anything is possible when it comes to a criminal case, before the Nigerian court, because the Nigerian criminal justice system and its judges are deemed to be corrupt.
Nnaji’s preemptive strike behavior, is a reflection of the orthodoxy and typical political culture and attitudes of the Nigerian politicians in the country, who are greedy, selfish, corrupt and dishonest, when they are accused of committing a serious crime against the Nigerian state, which is capable of disappearing into the thin air or being swept under the rug. In fact, the Nigerian politicians who have corruption, criminal cases like the Nnaji’s allegedly forged university and NYSC certificates are too offen running from the pillar to post, using the political connections and influence to covertly JAPA from Nigeria to a foreign country. Or a politician could undertake a political party swap or make a red carpet crossing from the opposition PDP Party to the ruling APC Party in Abuja, which leads to the forgiveness of the corruption sin or criminal case in Nigeria. Thus, the prevailing political culture in Nigeria, is characterized by the act of Trade by Barter, to trade one’s corruption sin to join the ruling APC Party in Abuja, earn a pardon, considering that the 2027 Nigerian Presidential election is around the corner.
Why is it difficult for the Nigerian politicians not to be able to face the music, the Nigerian laws and courts, when they are in trouble and accused of a serious crime like the forgery of the university and NYSC certificates in the country? There is the American idiom that says, If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime, which means that if you choose to break the country’s law, you must be prepared to accept the resulting consequences. In his allegedly certificate forgery case, Nnaji isn’t willing, ready and prepared to accept the resulting consequence of his action, which is the typical poor, irresponsible behavior harbored and exhibited by the Nigerian politicians.
Imagine, Nnaji, a man, who is facing six- count charge of university degree and NYSC certificates forgery, money laundering and misappropriation filed by the ICPC, which is hanging over his head, yet he is a PDP gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State. Wow! Nnaji, is determined and leaving no stone unturned to win the governorship election in Enugu State. A typical political behavior by the Nigerian politicians, who are facing a criminal investigation and trial in the court.
Nnaji with a skeleton in his cupboard, but not withstanding, he is still Walking Tall and forging ahead with his political ambitions and career of becoming the elected PDP governor of Enugu State. This Nnaji’s political decision, behavior and plan are revealing about the nature of the Nigerian political culture, which is characterized by many intervening factors, such as no conscious, corruption, ethnic and religious politics. I consider this questionable behavior of Nnaji, an appointed political official as a former Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology in the President Tinubu government, it is revealing about the many problems facing, affecting and constraining the Nigerian politics today- the lack of politicians with a good character, transparency, accountability, honesty and integrity in Nigeria.
There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift by the President Tinubu administration and its agent – DSS, to thoroughly undertake a background checks and verification of the university degree and NYSC certificates that are submitted to the federal government ministries, departments and agencies by the employment applicants or by a political appointee in the government, before taking office.
Leave a comment