Prof. Simon Ortuanya,
The Federal Ministry of Education has opened an investigation into the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Simon Ortuanya, over his response to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) request that uncovered evidence of certificate forgery linked to former Minister of Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji.
According to sources, Education Minister Tunji Alausa has set up a panel accusing the vice-chancellor of “unethical and criminal disclosure of information” about Mr Nnaji, information the university is obligated to release under the FOI Act.
It is still unclear what specific terms of reference the minister gave the panel.
PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mr Alausa and ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo for clarification, but both have yet to respond. I
nsiders say the panel is expected to convene sometime between this week and next.
The investigation targets the UNN VC despite the fact that Mr Nnaji effectively admitted to aspects of the alleged forgery in court filings submitted during his unsuccessful attempt to block publication of the PREMIUM TIMES report.
Instead of initiating criminal proceedings against the former minister, whose alleged use of forged academic documents would constitute an offence under Nigerian law, the government appears to be focusing its efforts on the university official who released the records in compliance with an FOI request.
Legal analysts say the ministry’s action risks undermining transparency and could be interpreted as an attempt to protect a politically connected figure while punishing lawful disclosure.
PREMIUM TIMES’ two-year investigation revealed that Mr Nnaji submitted a forged Bachelor’s degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate during his ministerial screening on 1 August 2023.
Documents showed that at the time he claimed to have graduated and joined the NYSC scheme, he was still writing to UNN seeking permission to re-take a final-year course he had previously failed.
Questions about the authenticity of his credentials first emerged in July 2023 following his nomination as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Critics argued he had not completed his programme at UNN and therefore could not have legitimately obtained the certificates presented to federal authorities.
PREMIUM TIMES’ document review, alongside confirmations from UNN and the NYSC, indicated that the certificates Mr Nnaji submitted were not issued by either institution.
In a 2 October letter responding to an FOI request, VC Ortuanya stated that although Mr Nnaji enrolled at UNN in 1981, records showed he did not finish his degree and that the university never awarded him a Bachelor’s certificate.
Following publication of the findings, Mr Nnaji accused both the newspaper and the vice-chancellor of acting at the behest of the Enugu State Government.
His media aide, Robert Ngwu, later claimed without evidence, on national television that PREMIUM TIMES received N100 million to produce the investigation.
Confronted on-air for proof, he provided none.
PREMIUM TIMES has denied the allegation and has since issued Mr Ngwu a pre-litigation notice in preparation for a defamation suit.
