By Our Correspondent
Nigerians have been reacting to allegations of certificate forgery and perjury by the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
Premium Times, an online newspaper, had exclusively reported that the minister allegedly forged “his” degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, when the institution never issued him a degree certificate.
He is also alleged to have forged his NYSC certificate as the Service has disowned the one he currently parades.
On Sunday, the newspaper further alleged that the embattled minister had admitted in court filing that the university never issued any certificate to him though he was admitted to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1981.
Samira Pearl Yusuf on a Facebook post welcomed the newspaper’s investigation, noting that “Good to see this coming on the heels of the Federal Government announcement of a nationwide enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank concerning academic credential verification. Let’s up more (sic) appointed elected public officers will be exposed by the time their certificates go through a strict verification process as directed by the Federal Government.”
Isa Musa Suleiman stressed that the minister is a “prison candidate,” however, expressed doubt “but this is our country.”
On his part, Silas Etoama, said that “Justice requires bringing the certificates of all states and federal government appointees in the current administration for scrutiny.”
Nsima Splendidpal Aekong called on President Tinubu to do the needful, recalling the NYSC debacle of former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun. “Let PBAT do the needful,” Etoama quipped.
Some Nigerian officials have been caught in the crosshairs of questionable certificates. It is hoped that the present administration will have the will to act swiftly.
