ADC Demands Sack of Minister Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu for retaining the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, despite allegations that he submitted forged academic credentials.

The party said Nnaji’s purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate were officially disowned by the issuing institutions.

In a statement on Monday, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the minister’s continued presence in the cabinet as a “disservice to the nation,” noting that the Ministry of Innovation requires leadership with integrity and competence.

“Both UNN and the NYSC have publicly stated that the certificates presented by the minister were not issued by them. Court filings also indicate that the minister admitted UNN never awarded him a degree,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC accused the Tinubu administration of “tacitly condoning fraud” and questioned why Nnaji remains in office despite public outrage. The party argued that this reflects a wider pattern of questionable credentials among top officials in the ruling APC, calling for urgent review of the vetting process by the Senate and relevant security agencies.

The opposition urged the immediate suspension of the minister pending a full, independent investigation. It added that if found guilty, Nnaji should be dismissed and prosecuted for forgery and perjury.

“Certificate forgery is a criminal offense, not a clerical error. Allowing such individuals to hold key offices undermines public trust and the credibility of governance,” the ADC said.

The party stressed that Nigeria has many qualified and competent professionals capable of leading ministries, and the government should ensure merit and integrity guide appointments to strategic positions.