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 academic and national service certificates attributed to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
The investigator, Superintendent of Police Yakubu Ibrahim, gave the testimony on Monday while appearing as the first prosecution witness in the trial of Nnaji, who faces six counts bordering on alleged corruption, fraud, conferring corrupt advantage and providing false information over the disputed certificates.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, J. A. Mumini (SAN), Ibrahim said the ICPC began investigating the matter after receiving two separate petitions alleging certificate forgery against the former minister.
He explained that the Chairman of the commission’s Special Task Force directed an investigation, prompting the ICPC to request relevant records from the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, UNN and the NYSC.
According to the witness, the commission contacted UNN to authenticate a Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry allegedly presented by Nnaji during his ministerial screening before the Senate in 2023.
Ibrahim told the court that the university responded that it had not issued the certificate attributed to the former minister, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State for the 2027 election.
He added that the NYSC also denied issuing a discharge certificate dated May 15, 1986, which was attributed to Nnaji.
The investigator further said UNN provided the ICPC with Nnaji’s academic records, including a withdrawal notice dated November 7, 1984, relating to his performance in General Microbiology.
When the prosecution presented copies of the correspondence between the ICPC and the two institutions, Ibrahim identified the documents. Defence counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said he would not oppose their admission at that stage but reserved the right to challenge them later.
On the steps taken to question Nnaji during the investigation, the witness said the head of his section issued an invitation, but the investigators were unable to locate the defendant’s address.
He said the invitation, dated May 5, 2026, was subsequently sent to Nnaji’s email address and WhatsApp number. After the former minister failed to honour the invitation, the ICPC contacted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to assist in effecting his arrest on July 1.
According to Ibrahim, Nnaji was subsequently questioned and made statements dated July 1 and 2.
During cross-examination, the witness admitted that he did not personally visit UNN during the investigation and did not know the faculty to which Nnaji had been admitted. He, however, said members of the investigating team interviewed the university’s Registrar.
Asked whether the investigation established where the alleged certificates were forged, Ibrahim said he did not know. He also told the court that the team did not investigate where Nnaji completed his national service because the NYSC had denied issuing the discharge certificate.
“The NYSC said the certificate was not issued by it, which was why we didn’t inquire where he served,” he told the court.
The witness also discussed the academic records supplied by UNN, including the notice of withdrawal marked Exhibit C. He said the university explained its policy on the grades required for the award of a degree, adding that a student who failed a course four times would not qualify for the certificate.
Ibrahim testified that Nnaji failed at two stages and did not sit the examination at the third stage for medical reasons. He further alleged that the former minister later sat for a supplementary examination for which he had not registered.
Olanipekun, however, drew the witness’s attention to a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985, which he suggested had rescinded the earlier withdrawal notice. Ibrahim agreed that the letter existed but said the withdrawal notice concerned a course in General Microbiology.
The investigator also acknowledged that his team did not establish the number of years a student studying Microbiology was expected to spend at the university.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination, the prosecution did not re-examine the witness. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently discharged him and adjourned further hearing until November 3.
Nnaji resigned as minister following the controversy surrounding his academic and national service certificates. The allegations are now before the court, which will determine the issues arising from the prosecution’s case and the defence’s response.
The report also stated that Nnaji did not include the disputed degree certificate in the documents he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 Enugu governorship election, in which he is expected to contest on the PDP platform.
