By Stephen Simon
A group of lawyers and public interest analysts has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into alleged certificate forgery involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is allowed to proceed without political interference.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, the group, led by legal practitioner Liborous Oshoma, commended the ICPC for arresting the former minister but expressed concern over what it described as the slow pace of efforts to prosecute the case. The lawyers maintained that Nnaji’s resignation from office in 2025 did not extinguish the allegations against him and urged the anti-graft agency to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
The group’s intervention comes days after the ICPC announced that it had arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while executing a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court. According to the commission, the former minister had repeatedly failed to honour invitations over allegations that he forged a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The lawyers argued that findings from previous investigations, including a government review of university records, had strengthened the case for criminal prosecution. They noted that official documents and court filings had raised serious questions about the authenticity of the academic credentials presented by the former minister for public office.
Oshoma urged the President to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption by ensuring that no individual, regardless of status or political connections, is shielded from accountability. He warned that any attempt to frustrate the investigation would undermine public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
The group also called for the recovery of salaries, allowances and other benefits received by the former minister if the allegations are proven in court. It further urged the Federal Government to review official actions and decisions taken during Nnaji’s tenure, insisting that public office must remain anchored on integrity, transparency and accountability.
