Justice Hauwa Yilwa has postponed the hearing after the legal team representing the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and its officials failed to submit their responses on time.
Representing UNN and its officers, lawyer Asogwa expressed skepticism about the Applicant’s allegations but assured the court that he would counsel his clients to maintain the current situation until the case is resolved.
He emphasized that his clients intend to comply with the court’s directives and refrain from any actions that might alter the status quo during the litigation process.
The minister at the center of the controversy insists that the university should promptly release his academic transcript without further delay or political interference. He highlighted that he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry with a second-class lower division in 1985, and therefore, the institution has no grounds to withhold his academic credentials.
This development coincides with the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduling a hearing for November 10 regarding the minister’s lawsuit against the university. Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies to thoroughly verify the certificates of all candidates vying for public office to prevent individuals with dubious qualifications from assuming positions of power.
Accused of submitting a forged certificate upon his 2023 appointment, the minister, through his spokesperson Dr. Robert Ngwu, defended his integrity during a press conference in Abuja.
Nnaji alleged that university officials sought to tarnish his reputation by issuing contradictory statements about his certificate, allegedly to appease a governor intent on removing him from office for political gain. At the briefing, he presented the 1985 graduation brochure bearing his name, Nnaji Uchenna G, and photograph alongside other graduates, as well as a letter from the Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Celine Ngozi Nnebedum, confirming his admission in 1981 and graduation in 1985.
When questioned about the discrepancy between the names “Nnaji Uchenna G” on the graduation brochure and “Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji” cited by the Registrar as the graduate, he explained that such variations are common among Igbo names and do not imply different identities.
The minister expressed shock upon discovering that after the university’s 2023 letter affirming his graduation, the same institution issued a contradictory letter in May 2025 denying any record of his graduation. He accused the vice chancellor of withholding the truth and revealed that this prompted him to initiate legal proceedings to prevent the university’s management from manipulating his academic records for political motives.
Despite a court injunction mandating the university to release his academic transcript, Nnaji lamented that the vice chancellor has refused to comply and has instead engaged in cyberbullying and a politically charged media campaign against him.
He stated, “It is evident that this matter transcends education or honesty; it is a politically motivated attack masquerading as an academic investigation. The timing, the sources, the fabricated documents, and orchestrated narratives all suggest a deliberate effort to undermine a respected public official through partisan politics.”