By Nnamdi Ojiego
The recent stepping down of Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has reignited fierce debate over the effectiveness of the country’s vetting system for public office holders.
This issue came to light after inquiries showed that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officially denied the authenticity of the academic and service documents Nnaji submitted during his ministerial confirmation.
The revelations have sparked widespread public outrage, underscoring how individuals often slip through Nigeria’s supposedly rigorous background checks to occupy influential positions such as ministers, governors, and agency heads-only for allegations of fraud to emerge later.
For many Nigerians, Nnaji’s resignation symbolizes a deeper malaise afflicting the nation’s governance structures.
Allegations of Forged Credentials
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), highlighted the seriousness of the accusations against Nnaji.
“With official denials from UNN and NYSC, the allegations against Mr. Nnaji carry significant weight,” Nwanguma stated.
He stressed that forgery is a grave criminal offense involving the intentional fabrication of official documents to mislead, especially when such falsified credentials are used to gain public office.
While he acknowledged that resigning is a morally responsible act, Nwanguma argued it does not absolve legal responsibility.
“Allowing Mr. Nnaji to quietly resign without a full investigation or prosecution sends a dangerous message that criminality in public service can go unpunished,” he warned.
He also criticized the Department of State Service (DSS), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Senate for their failure to uncover these discrepancies during the vetting process, describing it as a profound dereliction of duty.
“The fact that investigative journalists uncovered what multiple layers of official scrutiny missed suggests either gross incompetence or deliberate concealment,” Nwanguma added.
Deep-Rooted Corruption and Political Manipulation
Alfred Ononugbo, a forensic analyst and criminal intelligence specialist, attributed the Nnaji scandal to entrenched political interference that has long undermined Nigeria’s public institutions.
“Politics in Nigeria has become a commercial enterprise rather than a public service, permeating sectors from education to security. As a result, due diligence in appointing officials has become a mere formality,” Ononugbo explained.
He pointed out that a culture of patronage, which values loyalty over competence, has further eroded the integrity of the screening process.
“The vetting system no longer acts as a safeguard; instead, it serves as a rubber stamp for political allies,” he noted.
Ononugbo also questioned the current state of Nigeria’s security intelligence apparatus, describing it as a shadow of its former effectiveness.
“It is alarming that the DSS could clear an individual whose documents fail basic verification. This indicates a significant institutional breakdown,” he said. “If robust biometric and academic verification systems were in place, such forgeries would have been detected early.”
He cautioned that while Nnaji’s resignation might be seen as honorable, it could also be a tactical move to prepare for legal defense, possibly alleging political persecution. “Either way, it exposes the fragility of our vetting and judicial systems,” Ononugbo concluded.
Complicity and Silence Among Officials
Uche Alisigwe, Principal Partner at Onunaku Chambers, described the scandal as symptomatic of a wider conspiracy of silence within Nigeria’s leadership.
“Despite its age, Nigeria remains politically immature. Systemic corruption has deeply infiltrated societal institutions,” he said. “Agencies like the DSS and the Senate, responsible for verifying credentials, owe the public transparent explanations.”
Alisigwe insisted that both the minister and the officials who endorsed his documents must be held accountable.
“A functioning system would prosecute those who validated forged certificates, as they either abetted the crime or were negligent,” he argued.
He warned that failure to sanction those involved would further erode public confidence in government institutions.
“This issue goes beyond Nnaji alone; it strikes at the core of Nigeria’s institutional integrity. If senior officials can commit forgery without consequences, it emboldens others to do the same,” Alisigwe emphasized.
A Recurring Cycle of Impunity
The Nnaji incident is far from isolated. Over the years, numerous Nigerian politicians have faced similar allegations of certificate forgery, revealing a persistent crisis of integrity in public office.
For example, in 1999, Salisu Buhari resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives after it was discovered he falsified a degree from the University of Toronto.
In 2018, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun stepped down following revelations that her NYSC exemption certificate was forged. Subsequently, figures like Senator Ademola Adeleke, now Governor of Osun State, were accused of manipulating secondary school records, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah faced scrutiny after the NYSC disowned his discharge certificate.
Other cases include Christian Abah, a former legislator who lost his seat after the Supreme Court confirmed he submitted a forged diploma, and Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, disqualified from a gubernatorial race for similar reasons. Collectively, these incidents expose a systemic failure in Nigeria’s screening mechanisms, where political loyalty often outweighs honesty and competence.
Despite public outrage, prosecutions remain rare and accountability elusive. Analysts attribute this to a culture of impunity where political expediency trumps the rule of law. The DSS and Senate, expected to uphold national integrity through rigorous background checks, have frequently been accused of partisanship and negligence.
“Each time such scandals surface, we witness resignations or quiet exits but never true accountability,” Nwanguma observed. “This silence has become institutionalized.”
A Defining Moment for Change
While Nnaji’s resignation is dramatic, it fits a familiar pattern where the system tolerates misconduct and quickly moves on. Whether justice will ultimately be served remains uncertain.
For proponents of good governance, this episode represents a critical opportunity to reinforce Nigeria’s anti-corruption measures.
“This should be a turning point,” Nwanguma urged. “The government must conduct an independent audit of all political appointees’ credentials. Public office is a trust, and integrity must be the foremost qualification.”
Until such reforms are enacted, many Nigerians fear the cycle of forgery, cover-ups, and resignations will continue unchecked, leaving the public to wonder how many more individuals like Uche Nnaji remain in power, shielded by a flawed system that no longer distinguishes between merit and deceit.