The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disowned certificates linked to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The witness, SP Yakubu Ibrahim, disclosed this while testifying in the alleged certificate forgery case against Nnaji before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Led in evidence by ICPC counsel, J.A. Mumini, SAN, Ibrahim said the commission launched an investigation after receiving two separate petitions accusing the former minister of certificate forgery.
He said the chairman of the commission’s Special Task Force subsequently directed an investigation, prompting the ICPC to request relevant documents from the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), UNN and the NYSC.
According to the witness, the Clerk of the Senate forwarded copies of Nnaji’s NYSC certificate and his Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry to the commission.
Ibrahim told the court that the NYSC, in its response, stated that the certificate purportedly issued by the corps was not issued by it.
He added that UNN also informed the commission that Nnaji had not obtained the required grades for the award of the degree certificate.
The witness said the university explained that its grading policy disqualified students who failed an examination four times from receiving a certificate.
He further testified that Nnaji failed at two stages and did not sit the examination at the third stage for medical reasons.
According to Ibrahim, the university’s letter stated that Nnaji subsequently sat a supplementary examination for which he had not registered.
He added that UNN confirmed that the BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry attributed to the former minister was not issued by the institution.
The witness also told the court that the ICPC obtained documents, including a payslip, from the SGF’s office, prompting the commission to request Nnaji’s bank statement.
He said the statement showed that Nnaji received ₦29.5m in salaries as a minister before resigning.
Ibrahim identified letters sent to the Clerk of the Senate, the SGF, UNN, the NYSC, the bank and Nnaji, which the prosecution tendered as evidence.
He further testified that Nnaji failed to honour the commission’s invitation to respond to the allegations contained in the petitions, prompting the ICPC to contact the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the witness, the DSS subsequently arrested the former minister on July 1.
Counsel to Nnaji, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said he would reserve his objection to the admissibility of the documents until the appropriate stage of the proceedings, if necessary.
In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the documents in evidence but held that any objections to their admissibility would be considered at the final address.
Witness admits he did not visit UNN
During cross-examination by Olanipekun, Ibrahim admitted that he did not visit UNN during the investigation.
He also said he did not know how many campuses the university had or the faculty from which Nnaji graduated.
Asked whether he interviewed any past or serving university staff, the witness said he interviewed a registrar identified as Ngozi but could not recall her surname.
Ibrahim further told the court that he saw a letter from UNN directing the withdrawal of Nnaji’s admission.
Olanipekun, however, drew his attention to another letter indicating that the withdrawal letter, dated November 7, 1984, had been rescinded by a subsequent letter dated March 18, 1985.
Following the cross-examination, the prosecution sought an adjournment to enable it to call another witness.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 5 for continuation of the trial.
Background
Nnaji was arraigned before the court on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, money laundering and abuse of office. He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The ICPC alleged that he presented forged UNN degree and NYSC certificates to support his ministerial appointment in 2023.
The commission also accused him of receiving about ₦29.58m in salaries and allowances as minister, allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful acts.
The former minister was granted bail in the sum of ₦20m, with one surety, and ordered to deposit his international passport with the court.
