The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) denied issuing certificates allegedly presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), SP Yakubu Ibrahim, disclosed this while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the alleged certificate forgery trial involving the former minister.
Ibrahim, who was led in evidence by the ICPC counsel, J.A. Mumini, SAN, said the commission commenced investigations after receiving two petitions alleging certificate forgery against Nnaji.
He told the court that the ICPC contacted the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, UNN and NYSC to authenticate documents allegedly submitted by Nnaji during his ministerial screening in 2023.
According to the witness, the Clerk of the Senate forwarded to the commission a Bachelor of Science certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry attributed to Nnaji, as well as an NYSC discharge certificate.
Ibrahim said the NYSC responded that the discharge certificate was not issued by the organisation.
He also told the court that UNN said Nnaji did not obtain the grades required for the award of the degree certificate.
The witness said the university explained that its academic regulations stipulated that a student who failed an examination four times would not qualify for the award of a certificate.
He alleged that Nnaji failed at two stages and did not sit for an examination at a third stage for medical reasons. He added that the university’s correspondence stated that Nnaji subsequently took a supplementary examination for which he had not registered.
Ibrahim further testified that UNN confirmed that the BSc certificate in Microbiology and Biochemistry attributed to Nnaji was not issued by the institution.
The investigator also told the court that documents obtained from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, including a payslip, led the commission to request Nnaji’s bank statement.
According to him, the statement showed that the former minister received about N29.5m in salaries before his resignation.
The witness identified correspondence between the ICPC and the Senate Clerk, SGF’s office, UNN, NYSC, a bank and Nnaji, which the prosecution tendered in evidence.
The documents were admitted by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, although Nnaji’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, reserved objections to their admissibility until the appropriate stage of the proceedings.
Defence challenges investigation
During cross-examination, Olanipekun questioned aspects of the investigation.
Ibrahim admitted that he did not personally visit UNN during the investigation and could not identify the faculty to which Nnaji had been admitted.
He also said he could not recall the surname of a registrar identified as Ngozi whom he said the investigation team interviewed.
The witness further told the court that he had seen a UNN letter dated November 7, 1984, directing the withdrawal of Nnaji’s admission.
Olanipekun, however, drew his attention to another letter dated March 18, 1985, which indicated that the earlier withdrawal notice had been rescinded.
The witness also admitted that investigators did not establish where the alleged certificates were forged.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination, the prosecution requested an adjournment to enable it to call another witness.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for continuation of trial.
Nnaji is facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, money laundering and abuse of office. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The ICPC alleges that he presented forged UNN and NYSC certificates in support of his ministerial appointment in 2023. The commission also alleges that he received about N29.58m in salaries and allowances as minister.
The allegations remain before the court and have not been established by a final judgment.