Timeline: How certificate forgery controversy forced Minister Uche Nnaji’s resignation

The resignation of Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, connected Monday followed weeks of mounting contention implicit allegations that helium forged his world credentials.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser connected Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the President accepted Nnaji’s resignation, ending months of scrutiny implicit the authenticity of his grade and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.

Below is simply a timeline of cardinal developments that led to his exit from the Federal Executive Council.

July 2023 — Allegations emerge

Concerns astir Nnaji’s credentials archetypal surfaced soon aft President Tinubu nominated him for a ministerial position. Media reports questioned the authenticity of the Bachelor of Science grade successful Microbiology which helium claimed to person obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

August 2023 — Credentials submitted to Senate

During his screening, Nnaji presented copies of his world and NYSC certificates to the Senate. The documents indicated that helium graduated from UNN successful July 1985 and completed nationalist work successful April of the aforesaid twelvemonth — a timeline critics described arsenic inconsistent.

May 2025 — UNN disowns Nnaji’s certificate

In May, a missive from the UNN Registrar to the Public Complaints Commission stated that determination was nary grounds that the assemblage issued a grade certificate to Nnaji successful 1985. The revelation intensified nationalist calls for verification of each credentials presented by national appointees.

October 2, 2025 — UNN reaffirms position

Responding to a Freedom of Information request, UNN’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, reaffirmed that Nnaji did not implicit his studies and that nary certificate was issued to him by the assemblage successful 1985.

October 4, 2025 — Documents contradict Nnaji’s claim

Further probe by Premium Times uncovered interior assemblage records showing that Nnaji had failed a virology people (MCB 431 AB) and wrote to the assemblage successful 1986 seeking support to re-sit the exam. The papers straight contradicts his assertion of graduation successful 1985.

October 6, 2025 — Court declines injunction

Nnaji reportedly approached a tribunal seeking to restrain UNN, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Senate from releasing his world records to journalists and investigators. The court, however, declined to assistance the afloat injunction.

October 7, 2025 — Nnaji resigns

Under increasing unit from the nationalist and civilian nine organisations, Nnaji tendered his resignation missive to President Tinubu. In the letter, helium maintained his innocence and blamed “political blackmail” for the contention surrounding his credentials.

Presidential adjutant Bayo Onanuga confirmed that the President had accepted Nnaji’s resignation, commending him for taking “a dignified measurement successful the look of nationalist scrutiny.”

The station Timeline: How certificate forgery contention forced Minister Uche Nnaji’s resignation appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.