Alleged Certificate Forgery: Minister’s Suit Against UNN, Others Stalled

opeolumartinOctober 7, 202503 mins

October 7, 2025 | Abuja, Nigeria

Hearing in the suit filed by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and several others has been stalled following delays by the university’s legal team.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned the matter after counsels representing UNN and its officials failed to file their responses within the stipulated time. The judge emphasized the importance of procedural compliance and noted that the court could not proceed without the respondents’ official submissions.

Minister Nnaji, the applicant in the case, is suing the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, its Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Ortuanya, and three other unnamed officials.
In an ex-parte motion, Nnaji requested an order prohibiting UNN and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to tamper with his academic records. The motion, which suggests ongoing concerns over alleged manipulation or withholding of his academic information, also seeks:

• A writ of prohibition restraining any further actions on his records by the university,
• An order of mandamus compelling UNN and its officers to release his academic transcript, and
• A directive to the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory authority to enforce compliance by the university.
While the specifics of the alleged certificate forgery remain unclear in the court documents, the suit indicates a growing legal battle with potential implications for both the credibility of the institution and the minister’s standing.
The court has not yet announced a new date for the resumed hearing, but legal observers expect the matter to return to the docket once the university and other respondents fulfill their procedural obligations.

This case comes amid heightened public scrutiny over academic qualifications in public office and could reignite national conversations about transparency and record-keeping in Nigeria’s higher education institutions.