An investigator, Yakubu Ibrahim, working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Monday, told a Federal High Court, Abuja Division, that the bachelor’s degree certificate and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate submitted by a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to secure his ministerial appointment were forged.

Mr Ibrahim testified before the court that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the NYSC Headquarters denied issuing the certificates Mr Nnaji submitted to the National Assembly in 2023 for his ministerial clearance. 

He was appointed the minister of innovation, science and technology until the humiliating scandal of forged credentials reported by Peoples Gazette prompted his resignation in October 2025.

But he continued to enjoy hundreds of millions of naira in illegal salaries and allowances several months after his resignation.

He is contesting Enugu State governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr Ibrahim, a superintendent of police, who was the prosecution’s first witness, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that he was on the team that investigated two petitions against Mr Nnaji, who is now on trial for alleged corruption, fraud and provision of false information among others.

The witness said UNN furnished the ICPC with Mr Nnaji’s academic records which showed that he was admitted but didn’t graduate, and consequently, was not issued a certificate.

Among the records was a notice of withdrawal issued by the institution over Mr Nnaji’s repeated failure to obtain the minimum grade required to pass a certain course in general microbiology.

The documents were admitted as evidence and Mr Nnaji’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a senior lawyer, said he would not object to their admittance at that stage.

He asked the court to note it on record that he reserved his objection until a later time.

The witness said ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) collaborated on the case and invited him for questioning. 

Mr Nnaji did not honour the EFCC invitation prompting his arrest on July 1.

Mr Olanipekun cross-examined the witness and questioned him  whether he visited the UNN campus and particularly the controversial faculty to register his contention. 

Mr Ibrahim replied in the negative, noting that the investigation relied on the interview with the institution’s registrar.

The defence counsel queried Mr Yakubu about the source of the certificates he claimed were forged but the witness said he didn’t know.

The witness added that Mr Nnaji did not dispute the allegation of forgery when he was questioned.

Mr Olanipekun further asked the witness about the source of the disputed NYSC certificate but the witness said he did not know where Mr Nnaji got it since the issuing body already denied it.

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

Asked if he saw the UNN’s notice of withdrawal, the witness said yes and identified the document dated November 1984 as Exhibit C.

Mr Ibrahim said UNN had previously explained its policy to disqualify a student from receiving a certificate if they failed any course four times.

The witness said Mr Nnaji failed at two different stages and skipped the third assessment for medical reasons.

Mr Ibrahim said Mr Nnaji later sat for an examination he never registered to take.

He said, “The defendant went ahead to write (sic) the supplementary examination for which he did not register.”

He reiterated that the institution already said it could not authenticate Mr Nnaji’s bachelor’s degree certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry, the same credential he used to secure his ministerial appointment in 2023.

Mr Yakubu admitted to seeing another March 1985  letter rescinding the notice of withdrawal issued to Mr  Nnaji.

The witness told the court he did not know the duration of the course Mr Nnaji claimed to have studied at the institution.

Ms Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until November 3.