The African Democratic Congress, on Wednesday accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being a haven for certificate forgers, alleging that the party continues to shield individuals with questionable academic records.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to simply accept the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, rather than ordering a full probe, suggested leniency towards misconduct.
Nnaji resigned on Tuesday following a Premium Times investigation alleging that he presented forged academic and National Youth Service Corps certificates during his ministerial screening in 2023.
According to the report, both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC have disowned the documents.
“The APC has normalised deceit, turning it into a defining trait while providing refuge for individuals with dubious integrity and forged credentials,” the ADC said.
“We are equally appalled that the minister was allowed to quietly resign after publicly admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life.”
The party urged law enforcement agencies to conduct an independent investigation into the matter, stressing that resignation does not absolve criminal liability. “Forgery is a crime,” it said. “If found guilty, Mr. Nnaji should be prosecuted. Anything less will amount to a cover-up.”
The ADC further questioned the President’s resolve to combat corruption, arguing that failure to act decisively in such a straightforward case undermines public confidence in his administration’s integrity drive.
But Nnaji, in a statement on Wednesday, said his resignation did not amount to an admission of guilt.
In a press statement personally signed on Tuesday and shared with journalists on Wednesday, Nnaji said his decision to quit was prompted by a “sustained campaign of falsehood” against him and his office.
“After deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians, I have tendered my resignation as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology to President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Nnaji described the allegations as “politically motivated and malicious,” adding that his decision to step aside was to allow due process to run its course.
“My decision to step aside is not an admission of guilt, but a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings currently before the court,” he explained.
He thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued support for the administration’s goals.
“His vision for a renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria is one I continue to hold dear,” he stated. “I remain committed to supporting his administration and its transformative agenda.”
Meanwhile, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) condemned the Presidency, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Senate for what it described as “gross dereliction of duty” in the appointment and confirmation of Nnaji despite clear red flags.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA described the incident as a “shameful institutional failure” that exposed the rot within Nigeria’s governance and vetting systems.
“It is disheartening that President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the DSS all ignored clear red flags and public outcry over Mr. Nnaji’s forged credentials,” Suraju said. “This incident not only erodes public trust but reinforces the perception that corruption and impunity remain the operating principles within Nigeria’s political leadership.”
The group recalled that it had petitioned both the President and the Senate as far back as June 2024, urging a probe into the forgery allegations and Nnaji’s suspension pending investigation, but the warnings were ignored.
HEDA also accused the DSS of negligence, alleging that the agency failed to verify Nnaji’s credentials or deliberately suppressed evidence during the security clearance process. “From Kemi Adeosun to Stella Oduah, and now Geoffrey Nnaji, this pattern of negligence has become too consistent to ignore,” it said.
While acknowledging Nnaji’s resignation as “necessary but belated,” the organisation insisted that accountability must go beyond stepping down. “Resignation does not erase the crime of forgery. Those who enabled this fraud within the Presidency, DSS, and Senate must also be held accountable,” Suraju added.
HEDA urged President Tinubu to order the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the case, and commended Premium Times for its investigative diligence in exposing the scandal.
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