The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared Uche Nnaji, a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State. Nnaji is facing a criminal trial over certificate forgery at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He resigned as minister on October 7, 2023, after an investigation by Premium Times revealed that he forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
Nnaji's trial began on July 13, when he was arraigned on six-count charges of certificate forgery and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of N20 million. The trial was adjourned until October 26. Despite the ongoing trial, Nnaji was cleared as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu State in the 2027 election. His spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, is listed as his running mate.
In his submission to INEC for the 2027 governorship election, Nnaji omitted his disputed UNN degree certificate and instead submitted his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate as his educational qualification. This move raises questions about his repeated claims of obtaining a UNN degree. Nnaji had previously claimed to have graduated from UNN in 1985.
The ICPC had launched an investigation into Nnaji's certificate-forgery scandal after Premium Times' investigation. The commission repeatedly invited Nnaji for questioning, but he ignored the invitations. The ICPC later secured an arrest order against him and arrested him on July 1 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Nnaji's academic records have been under scrutiny since October 2023, when Premium Times began investigating his claims. He had filed a suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent UNN and its Vice-Chancellor from releasing his academic records. However, the university's Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate.
The NYSC authorities also disowned the discharge certificate in Nnaji's possession. Despite denying the forgery allegations, Nnaji resigned as minister three days after the investigation was published. He later moved from the ruling APC to the PDP and emerged as the governorship candidate of the Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction for the 2027 general elections.
Reports indicate that Nnaji is seeking the governorship to secure immunity from prosecution. A Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the ICPC to arrest Nnaji, but he denied the order's existence. He later filed an appeal against it at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The trial is ongoing, and Nnaji's candidacy for the 2027 election remains valid.
Key points
- Uche Nnaji drops UNN degree claim amid certificate forgery trial.
- Nnaji submits WAEC certificate to INEC for 2027 Enugu State governorship election.
- Nnaji's trial for certificate forgery and money laundering is ongoing.
