NYSC, UNN Disown Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji’s Certificates, ICPC Witness Tells Court

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have denied issuing academic and national service certificates attributed to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Superintendent of Police Yakubu Ibrahim, the first prosecution witness, gave the testimony on Monday during proceedings in the six-count case against Nnaji, who has pleaded not guilty to charges involving alleged certificate forgery, fraud and providing false information.

Ibrahim told the court that the ICPC opened an investigation after receiving two petitions alleging certificate forgery. The commission subsequently requested relevant records from the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, UNN and the NYSC.

According to the witness, the Senate forwarded copies of Nnaji’s Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry and his NYSC discharge certificate to the commission for verification.

He said the NYSC responded that it did not issue the discharge certificate attributed to the former minister. UNN also reportedly denied issuing the degree certificate and supplied academic records relating to Nnaji’s studies at the institution.

The investigator told the court that the university’s records included a notice of withdrawal dated November 7, 1984, concerning a course in General Microbiology. He said the institution explained that students who failed to obtain the required grades after four examination attempts were not eligible for a degree.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ibrahim admitted that he did not personally visit UNN during the investigation. He also said he could not identify the faculty from which Nnaji graduated or establish where the alleged certificates were forged.

The witness, however, said members of the investigative team interviewed a university registrar.

Olanipekun also drew the witness’s attention to a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985, which he said rescinded the earlier withdrawal notice. Ibrahim acknowledged the later letter and confirmed that the original notice related to General Microbiology.

The court also heard that investigators had attempted to contact Nnaji through his email address and WhatsApp after failing to locate his address. Ibrahim said the former minister did not honour the invitation, after which the commission worked with security agencies to facilitate his arrest on July 1, 2026.

The witness further told the court that documents obtained from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a bank were examined as part of the investigation. He said records indicated that Nnaji received approximately ₦29.5 million in salaries while serving as minister.

The ICPC alleges that the former minister presented the disputed certificates during his ministerial screening in 2023 and received salaries and allowances linked to the alleged offences. Nnaji has denied the charges.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted documents tendered by the prosecution, while reserving objections to their admissibility for consideration at the final address.

Following the cross-examination, the court discharged the witness and adjourned the case until November 3, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

The allegations remain before the court, and the prosecution is required to establish its case in accordance with the law before any finding of guilt can be made.