In a startling revelation, Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has been accused of forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The report by Peoples Gazette also implicates the State Security Service (SSS) in a cover-up of the fraudulent activity.
Geoffrey Nnaji, confirmed as a minister from Enugu State on August 7, 2023, after his nomination by the Senate on July 7, 2023, is facing serious allegations of certificate forgery. He was subsequently appointed to head the newly established Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
The report unveils that following Nnaji’s nomination, the SSS, as per protocol, sought to verify his NYSC certificate with the federal institution that purportedly issued it. The NYSC certificate is a mandatory requirement for all Nigerian graduates who complete the national service program.
Several discrepancies were found in Nnaji’s certificate:
– The certificate indicated a service period of 13 months instead of the standard 12 months.
– The certificate bore the signature of Animashaun Braimoh, who did not become the director of NYSC until 1988, whereas the certificate was supposedly issued in 1986. Certificates from 1986 should have been signed by Etuk Akpan, who was the NYSC head from January 1984 to December 1987.
Despite discovering the forgery, the SSS allegedly chose to conceal the information and cleared Nnaji’s nomination. Sources within the SSS revealed that top officials verified the falsity of Nnaji’s certificate but decided to cover it up, rationalizing that their duty was to clear nominees of the president and not to question the president’s judgment.
The NYSC confirmed that Nnaji’s certificate is not in their records and requested evidence of his participation in the youth service. Nnaji has ignored multiple invitations to comment on the matter.
Further investigations revealed discrepancies in Nnaji’s degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, including a misspelling of his first name and a mismatch between his graduation date and NYSC mobilization.
In his 2023 governorship bid in Enugu State, Nnaji listed his high school certificate as his highest educational attainment, omitting his questionable university and NYSC credentials.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar case in 2019, when Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s Finance Minister, resigned over allegations of forging her NYSC certificate. The government remained silent on the issue until her resignation.
The allegations against Minister Geoffrey Nnaji underscore the need for transparency and accountability in the vetting process for high-level government appointments.
The involvement of the SSS in allegedly covering up the forgery further complicates the issue, calling for immediate official statements and actions from the presidency and relevant authorities.
