Certificate scandal: Tinubu acting true to type by keeping Minister – ADC

By Jude Opara

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it is not surprised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to keep the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, in his cabinet despite serious allegations of certificate forgery against him.
In a statement released yesterday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the Tinubu administration’s silence over the matter shows its comfort with corruption and lack of respect for integrity.
According to the statement, “Despite mounting evidence and public outrage, Mr. Uche Nnaji remains in office after admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions and may have been forged.”
“We want to make it clear that this is not an isolated case. The APC government has a long and well-known history of certificate scandals and questionable academic claims among its top officials. These repeated controversies show that the party is comfortable with deceit and completely unconcerned about basic ethical standards.”
The party said credible reports have confirmed that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disowned the certificates submitted by the minister for his appointment. It added that Nnaji’s own court filings showed that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.
“The question every Nigerian is asking is simple: if the minister is not honourable enough to resign, why is the Tinubu government still keeping him in office?” the ADC queried.
It described the development as a clear proof that integrity and accountability have no place in this APC-led government, accusing the administration of mocking its own anti-corruption claims.
The ADC further stated that appointing someone with questionable credentials to head a ministry responsible for research and innovation is a disservice to the nation and a stain on its moral compass.
The party urged President Tinubu to suspend the minister immediately and order an independent investigation into the allegations.
“If found guilty, he should not only be dismissed but also prosecuted for forgery and perjury.
“Certificate forgery is not a clerical error, it is a crime. If proven, it must attract the full weight of the law. The longer the Tinubu government delays action, the clearer it becomes that integrity and accountability have no place in its leadership consideration,” the statement added.
The ADC also called on the Senate and the Department of State Services (DSS) to review their screening processes for political appointees, saying their failure to detect such discrepancies shows serious weakness in the system.