By Vivian Okejeme
A prosecution witness has 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 Uche Nnaji.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) alleged that Nnaji presented forged UNN degree and NYSC certificates.
The witness, SP Yakubu Ibrahim, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that his team was assigned to investigate the matter after the commission received two separate petitions alleging certificate forgery against Nnaji.
In his evidence-in-chief, the police officer 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), UNN and NYSC.
He testified that the Clerk of the Senate forwarded Nnaji’s NYSC certificate and BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry to the commission.
According to the witness, NYSC responded that the certificate purportedly issued by the corps was not issued by it.
Ibrahim further told the court that UNN also responded that Nnaji had failed to obtain the required grades for the award of his degree certificate.
He said the university explained in its letter the policy governing the grades required for the award of a certificate, stating that a student who failed four times would not qualify.
Ibrahim said Nnaji failed at two stages and did not sit for the examination at the third stage for medical reasons.
The witness added that, according to the university’s letter, the defendant went ahead to sit for a supplementary examination for which he had not registered.
Ibrahim further testified that UNN confirmed that the BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry attributed to Nnaji 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 Nnaji’s bank statement.
According to him, the bank statement showed that Nnaji received N29.5 million in salary as a minister before resigning.
The witness identified letters sent to the Clerk of the Senate, the SGF’s office, UNN, NYSC, the bank and Nnaji. The documents were subsequently tendered in evidence.
He also told the court that Nnaji failed to honour the commission’s invitation to answer questions concerning the petitions, prompting the ICPC to contact the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ibrahim said the DSS subsequently arrested Nnaji on July 1.
Counsel to Nnaji, Mr Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said he would reserve his objection to the admissibility of the documents until the appropriate stage of the proceedings, if necessary.
In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the documents in evidence but held that objections to their admissibility would be reserved until the final address.
During cross-examination by Olanipekun, 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 Nnaji graduated.
Asked whether he had interviewed any past or present university staff, the witness said he interviewed a registrar named Ngozi but could not recall her surname.
Ibrahim also told the court that he saw a letter from UNN directing the withdrawal of Nnaji’s admission.
Olanipekun, however, drew his attention to another letter showing that the withdrawal letter, dated Nov. 7, 1984, had been rescinded by a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985.
With no further questions from the defence, the prosecution requested an adjournment to enable it to call another witness.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until Nov. 5 for the continuation of the trial.
Nnaji was arraigned before the Federal High Court on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, money laundering and abuse of office.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The ICPC, which filed the charges, alleged that 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 a minister, allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful acts.
He was granted bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety, and ordered to deposit his international passport with the court.
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