Alleged Certificate Forgery: UNN, NYSC disowned Nnaji’s certificates, witness tells court

A prosecution witness, on Monday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned certificates linked to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji.

The witness, who identified himself as Yakubu Ibrahim, a superintendent of police officer with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), made the revelation. He was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer J.A Mumini, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

ICPC is prosecuting Mr Nnaji on certificate forgery and money laundering charges. An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES exposed the certificate forgery scandal leading to Mr Nnaji’s ouster from office last year.

The former minister is the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the upcoming 2027 governorship candidate in Enugu State.

Mr Ibrahim said his team was assigned to investigate the matter after the commission received two separate petitions alleging certificate forgery against Mr Nnaji.

He said the Chairman of the Special Task Force directed an investigation, prompting the commission to request relevant documents from the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to him, the Clerk of the Senate, National Assembly, forwarded Mr Nnaji’s NYSC certificate and BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry to the commission.

He said NYSC responded that the certificate purportedly issued by the corps was not issued by it.

The witness further told the court that UNN also responded that Nnaji failed to obtain the required grades for the award of his certificate.

He said the university explained in its letter the policy governing the grades required for the award of a certificate saying if one failed four times, the person was not qualified.

Mr Ibrahim said Mr Nnaji failed at two stages and did not write the examination at the third stage for medical reasons.

“The witness said that, according to the letter, the defendant went ahead to write the supplementary examination for which he did not register,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim further testified that UNN confirmed that the BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry attributed to the defendant was not issued by the university.

He said the commission also obtained documents from the SGF’s office, including a payslip, which prompted it to request Mr Nnaji’s bank statement.

According to him, the bank statement showed that Mr Nnaji received N29.5 million in salary as minister before he resigned.

The witness identified letters sent to the Clerk of the Senate, the SGF, UNN, NYSC, the bank and Mr Nnaji, which were tendered in evidence.

He also told the court that Mr Nnaji failed to honour the commission’s invitation to answer questions on the petitions, prompting the ICPC to contact the State Security Service (SSS).

Ibrahim said the DSS subsequently arrested Nnaji on 1 July.

Mr Nnaji’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a SAN, said he would reserve his objection to the admissibility of the documents until the appropriate stage of the proceedings, if necessary.

In a ruling, Judge Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the documents in evidence but held that objections to their admissibility would be reserved until the final address.

During cross-examination by Mr Olanipekun, Mr Ibrahim told the court that he did not visit UNN during his investigation.

He also said he did not know how many campuses the university had or the faculty from which Mr Nnaji graduated.

Asked whether he interviewed any past or present university staff member, the witness said he interviewed a registrar named Ngozi but could not recall her surname.

Mr Ibrahim also told the court that he saw a letter from UNN directing the withdrawal of Mr Nnaji’s admission.

Mr Olanipekun, however, drew his attention to another letter showing that the withdrawal letter dated 7 November 1984, was rescinded by a subsequent letter dated 18 March 1985.

With no further questions from the defence for the witness, the prosecution requested an adjournment to enable it call another witness.

Ms Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until 5 November for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nnaji was arraigned before the Federal High Court on six counts of certificate forgery, money laundering and abuse of office.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The ICPC, which filed the charges, alleged that Mr Nnaji presented forged UNN degree and NYSC certificates to support his ministerial appointment in 2023.

The commission also accused him of receiving about N29.58 million in salaries and allowances as minister, allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful acts.

The court granted him bail in yhe sum of N20 million with one surety and he was ordered to deposit his passport with the court. He is not to travel outside the country without permission from the court throughout the period of his trial.