ICPC Witness Tells Court UNN, NYSC Denied Issuing Certificates Linked to Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) denied issuing certificates allegedly presented by former minister Uche Nnaji during his ministerial screening in 2023.

Yakubu Ibrahim, a superintendent of police and the prosecution’s first witness, gave the testimony on Monday during the trial of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who is facing six charges relating to alleged forgery, fraud and the provision of false information.

Ibrahim said the ICPC investigated two petitions alleging certificate forgery against Nnaji. The investigation included efforts to authenticate a bachelor’s degree certificate in microbiology and biochemistry attributed to him and an NYSC discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986.

According to the witness, UNN responded that it did not issue the degree certificate, while the NYSC also denied issuing the discharge certificate. He added that the university provided Nnaji’s academic records, including a withdrawal notice dated November 7, 1984, relating to a course in general microbiology.

Ibrahim told the court that the university explained that students who failed to obtain the required grade after four attempts were not eligible for a degree.

During cross-examination by Nnaji’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, the investigator admitted that he did not visit UNN personally during the investigation and could not identify where the allegedly forged certificates had been produced. He, however, said members of the investigating team interviewed the university registrar.

The witness also explained that the ICPC did not investigate where Nnaji completed his national service because the NYSC had denied issuing the certificate in question.

“The NYSC said the certificate was not issued by it, which was why we didn’t inquire where he served,” Ibrahim told the court.

Olanipekun also referred to a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985, which he suggested had rescinded the university’s earlier withdrawal notice. Ibrahim agreed that the notice concerned general microbiology.

The investigator further told the court that officials invited Nnaji through email and WhatsApp after they were unable to locate his address. He said the former minister was arrested on July 1 after failing to honour the invitation and subsequently made statements to investigators on July 1 and 2.

Following the cross-examination, the prosecution did not re-examine the witness. Presiding judge Joyce Abdulmalik discharged Ibrahim and adjourned the case until November 3 for further hearing.

Nnaji was arraigned on July 13 and pleaded not guilty to all six charges filed by the ICPC. The case concerns allegations of certificate forgery, false information and corruption, which remain subject to determination by the court.