Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has swiftly moved to settle out of court in the scandalous certificate forgery case involving the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and other key institutions.
Nnaji, who resigned from office in October last year after a damning investigation, had sued to stop the university from allegedly tampering with his academic records. The case, however, has yet to proceed to full hearing due to procedural hurdles and pending objections.
At Monday’s proceedings, his counsel, Ope Muritala, informed the court of a fresh development, revealing that both parties were now exploring settlement talks and requested an adjournment to allow negotiations.
Lawyers representing the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission said they were unaware of the move until it was raised in court but did not oppose the request. Counsel to UNN and its officials confirmed that discussions were indeed underway, though they urged the court to consider pending motions if talks collapse.
Presiding judge, Hauwa Yilwa, declined to entertain any applications for now, adjourning the case to July 8 pending the outcome of settlement efforts.
The controversy stems from revelations that Nnaji allegedly forged both his university degree and NYSC certificates—documents he submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly for his ministerial appointment in 2023.
A federal government investigative panel, set up by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, later confirmed the allegations, finding that Nnaji did not graduate from UNN after failing a key course—Virology (MCB 431AB).
The panel discovered that his name was missing from the university’s 1985 graduation list and that there was no record showing he ever completed the failed course, raising serious questions about how he obtained the certificate he presented.
Despite these findings, Nnaji had sought court orders compelling the university to release his academic transcript and restrain it from interfering with his records.
UNN and its officials, however, pushed back, urging the court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction and describing the suit as premature, speculative, and procedurally flawed.
As the legal battle hangs in the balance, fresh calls are mounting for Nnaji to face prosecution over the alleged forgery, even as behind-the-scenes negotiations now threaten to quietly settle one of the most controversial scandals in recent times.
