The Enugu State Government has charged the embattled Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to “carry his cross” and personally clear his name before Nigerians.
This comes amid allegation of certificate forgery trailing the minister. He claimed to have graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka as well as obtained his discharge certificate from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
In a statement, the Director of Information in the Ministry of Information and Communication, Chukwuemeka Nebo, said the state government had no involvement whatsoever in the controversies surrounding the minister’s academic record.
“The Enugu State Government dissociates itself completely from these allegations. The Honourable Minister must carry his own cross and clear his name before Nigerians, instead of dragging the government into issues that are entirely personal to him,” Nebo said.
The government’s statement followed reports that the minister invited journalists to a world press conference scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Monday to address the matter, but failed to appear.
“A large number of Nigerian and international journalists reportedly gathered on the minister’s invitation to hear directly from him. But rather than appear before them to answer questions and establish his innocence, the minister absconded, leaving behind proxies who could not withstand the barrage of legitimate questions from journalists,” the statement read.
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Nebo questioned the minister’s decision to delegate such a sensitive and personal issue to aides instead of speaking directly to the media.
“Who can narrate Chief Nnaji’s UNN story better than him? Why invite the media, only to outsource the conference? Why send third parties, who lack the answers to critical questions, if he truly has nothing to hide?” he asked.
The Enugu State Government said the questions Nigerians are asking about Mr Nnaji’s academic history are legitimate and deserve direct answers from the minister himself.
“Did he, for his Senate screening, present a purported degree certificate showing that he graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in July 1985?
“Is it true that he deposed in a Federal High Court filing in Abuja that he was not issued any degree certificate by UNN and, if so, how did he come about the degree certificate he presented to the Senate?
“Is it also true that while he claims to have graduated in July 1985, he applied to the university to retake Virology (Course code: MCB 431) in the September 1985 supplementary examination, having failed the course?
“Is it correct that the university, in a letter dated November 8, 1985, informed Uche Nnaji that he again failed Virology (Course code: MCB 431) in the supplementary examination, but could register to retake the course in the June 1986 examination, provided he paid an examination fee of N4.00 (Four Naira)?
“Is it true that on January 3, 1986, he again applied to retake the same Virology examination in June 1986, stating in his letter that he had attached the receipt for the payment of the N4.00 resit fee?
“Is it also a fact that while claiming to possess a university degree, he submitted only his Secondary School WASC Certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 governorship election?
“Why did Uche Nnaji’s proxy at the Abuja press conference claim the minister ‘graduated,’ but stop short of affirming that he was issued a degree certificate?
“Did he also present a purported NYSC discharge certificate showing that he commenced his national service in April 1985 — three months before his supposed graduation — and served until July 1986, an irregular duration of 13 months instead of the statutory 12 months?
Source: Channels TV
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