HURIWA Alleges Political Motive In Nnaji Certificate Controversy

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised concerns that the controversy surrounding the academic records of former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, may be politically motivated, urging transparency and neutrality in the ongoing investigations.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the civil rights advocacy group said recent clarifications by Dr. Robert Ngwu, Special Adviser to the former minister, indicated that claims suggesting a Federal Government panel had already confirmed allegations of certificate forgery against Nnaji were premature and misleading.

 

HURIWA explained that according to Ngwu, the investigative panel referenced in some media reports was not constituted to determine whether the former minister forged a certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Instead, the panel was set up following a petition submitted by Nnaji to the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria) over alleged misconduct by certain officials of the university.

 

The group noted that the clarification suggests that reports claiming the panel had already established certificate forgery were inaccurate, particularly as the official findings of the panel have yet to be released by the ministry.

 

HURIWA further stated that the dispute over Nnaji’s academic records is already before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, where the former minister is seeking an order compelling the university to release his academic transcript, which he reportedly requested since May 2025.

 

According to the organisation, proceedings during the February 26 sitting before Justice H. J. Yilwa could not go on due to procedural issues, including the absence of proof of service in the court file and the need for some respondents’ filings to be properly regularised.

 

The court subsequently adjourned the case after counsel representing the university sought more time, a request that was not opposed by Nnaji’s legal team.

 

Beyond the court process, HURIWA said the former minister’s petition to the education ministry contained allegations of intimidation, unlawful access to confidential student records and possible tampering with academic documents by certain university officials. The petition also reportedly questioned the disclosure of personal academic data without authorisation, which the group said could violate provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

 

The advocacy organisation also referenced claims that a document allegedly used to justify certain administrative actions within the university was queried by the Public Complaints Commission (Nigeria), which reportedly indicated that the letter attributed to its office was fraudulent and that no complaint had been filed against the former minister.

 

While acknowledging that the allegations and counter-allegations would ultimately be determined by the court and relevant authorities, HURIWA said the political context surrounding the controversy could not be ignored.

 

The group described Nnaji as a prominent grassroots leader of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State and one of the early figures who helped build the party’s structure in the state.

 

HURIWA added that the timing and intensity of the allegations had raised questions among political observers about whether the controversy might be linked to evolving political dynamics in Enugu State, particularly as attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 governorship race.

 

The organisation also noted that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka previously served as Chief of Staff to a former governor of Enugu State and is widely perceived to belong to the same political camp as the current governor, Peter Mbah.

 

Although the Vice-Chancellor has reportedly denied any wrongdoing, HURIWA said the situation had nonetheless raised concerns about potential perceptions of conflict of interest.

“In matters involving sensitive academic records and political figures, the credibility of the investigative process must be protected at all costs.

 

Where questions arise about possible conflicts of interest, the appropriate institutional response is transparency and recusal,” the group stated.

 

HURIWA therefore called on the leadership of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to ensure that the investigation into the issues raised in Nnaji’s petition is conducted in a credible and impartial manner.

 

The group also urged that any university official directly or indirectly connected to the dispute should recuse themselves from administrative or investigative processes relating to the matter to avoid perceptions of bias.

 

It further called on the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria) to ensure that the investigative panel hears from all relevant stakeholders, including individuals who may have knowledge of the historical handling of the academic records in question.

 

HURIWA maintained that the integrity of Nigeria’s universities must be protected from political influence, stressing that academic institutions should remain neutral spaces dedicated to scholarship, record integrity and due process.

 

The organisation also advised the public and the media to avoid drawing premature conclusions while awaiting the official report of the investigative panel and the final determination of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.