The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to hold a strategic engagement with leaders of registered political parties on Monday, October 6, 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to amend the nation’s constitution.

The committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, has been consulting widely across the country and recently concluded a nationwide tour of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to gather public input on priority amendment areas.

In a statement released Sunday by House spokesperson Akin Rotimi, the House said the upcoming meeting will offer a platform for political parties to deliberate and contribute to proposals on key issues such as: State policing, Judicial and electoral reforms, Independent candidacy, Local government autonomy, Special seats for women, Human rights and justice and Power sector reforms.

According to the statement, the session aims to foster inclusive participation by allowing parties to present their perspectives, offer expert contributions and influence the shaping of reforms that reflect the collective will of the Nigerian people.

“Political parties remain the engine room of our democracy, and their active participation in this consultation is vital to achieving constitutional amendments that are inclusive, credible, and reflective of the collective aspirations of Nigerians,” said Deputy Speaker Kalu.

The committee is expected to finalize and submit its draft amendment proposals to the National Assembly by December 2025 for legislative consideration and possible adoption.

To facilitate productive discussions, the committee has also prepared a summary compendium of bills currently under review, which will serve as a reference for participants during the engagement.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application filed by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, seeking to prevent the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) from releasing his academic records.

In a ruling delivered on September 22, Justice Hauwa Yilwa dismissed Nnaji’s request for an injunction that would have stopped the university from disclosing or altering his academic records.

The judgment, obtained via a Certified True Copy, was made available to journalists on Sunday.

The minister had filed an ex parte motion (FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025) asking the court to:

1. Restrain UNN and its officials from tampering with his academic records.
2. Compel the university to release his academic transcript.
3. Prevent any third-party access to his student file.
4. Issue an injunction blocking the university from making any information public.

After reviewing arguments from Nnaji’s legal team, Justice Yilwa ruled that while the minister had legitimate interest in the case, the request for an injunction lacked merit.

“I find that the applicant has sufficient interest in the matter, and the application is partly meritorious. Accordingly, prayers 1, 2, and 3 are granted, while prayer 4, which sought an injunction, is declined,” the judge ruled.

Justice Yilwa emphasized that the reliefs granted should not be construed as preventing any party from carrying out their lawful duties.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, in a letter dated October 2, 2025, confirmed that the institution had no record of Mr. Nnaji graduating.

“From our records, we cannot confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985. There are no records showing that he completed his studies,” the VC stated.

The university’s position aligns with an earlier letter sent to the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025, which also stated that Mr. Nnaji did not complete his academic programme and therefore could not have been issued a degree certificate.

However, in his court filings, the minister claimed that UNN had confirmed his graduation in a letter dated December 21, 2023, which was sent to an online news outlet.

He blamed his inability to obtain a certificate on the “non-cooperative attitude” of certain university officials.

“Even though I am yet to collect my certificate from UNN, the institution issued a letter confirming that I graduated in July 1985 with a Second Class (Lower Division) in Microbiology/Biochemistry,” Nnaji stated in his affidavit.

Nnaji’s suit listed the Minister of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, former Acting VC Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, and the Senate of UNN as the first to seventh respondents.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has predicted a major loss for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Edo State governor dismissed the possibility of either Atiku or Obi posing a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu, whether they contest individually or as running mates.

Oshiomhole argued that both opposition leaders have a track record of electoral defeats and suggested history would repeat itself in 2027.

“Did Atiku and Obi not run together before and contest against the APC? They were soundly defeated. When they ran separately, the result was the same. If they unite again, they will still lose,” he said.

He added that repeating the same strategy would not change the outcome, saying:

“They have a history of being defeated together and apart. If they come back together, very good, they will still be defeated.”

In a separate comment, Oshiomhole criticized Atiku over his recent condemnation of President Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State following a tragic incident.

“I sympathize with former Vice President Atiku for thinking that even matters of death and honouring the dead should be politicized. At his age, as an elder statesman, he should know better,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow over the political future of both Atiku and Obi, with talks of a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 polls.

Atiku is currently a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi remains in the Labour Party.

Former governor Udo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports alleging that Governor Umo Eno ordered the withdrawal of security personnel attached to his predecessor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, described the claims as “inflammatory and concocted lies,” urging the public to disregard the report, which he said was based entirely on falsehoods.

A publication (not from DAILY GAZETTE) had alleged that Governor Eno ordered the removal of security from Mr Emmanuel’s residence over a political rift related to the 2027 elections.

The report cited a directive dated 30 September, allegedly signed by a police officer, ASP Ekwo Godwin, instructing operatives to withdraw from the former governor’s residence by October 1 and report to the state police headquarters for debriefing.

The publication also claimed the same order affected former state officials who did not join the ruling APC, linking the move to political tensions between Governor Eno and Udom Emmanuel.

However, in a statement released Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, Umanah firmly rejected the story.

He stressed that only the Inspector-General of Police or the State Commissioner of Police can authorize such withdrawals, not a sitting governor.

“I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor,” Umanah said.

He added that all former governors of Akwa Ibom State continue to receive the security protection they are entitled to by law and that no complaint or official report had been received from Udom Emmanuel or his aides regarding any such withdrawal.

“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel,” he added.

“The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”

Umanah reiterated that Governor Eno remains committed to peace, unity, and inclusive governance, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of political alignment, are treated fairly under the law.

Former governor Udo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports alleging that Governor Umo Eno ordered the withdrawal of security personnel attached to his predecessor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, described the claims as “inflammatory and concocted lies,” urging the public to disregard the report, which he said was based entirely on falsehoods.

A publication (not from DAILY GAZETTE) had alleged that Governor Eno ordered the removal of security from Mr Emmanuel’s residence over a political rift related to the 2027 elections.

The report cited a directive dated 30 September, allegedly signed by a police officer, ASP Ekwo Godwin, instructing operatives to withdraw from the former governor’s residence by October 1 and report to the state police headquarters for debriefing.

The publication also claimed the same order affected former state officials who did not join the ruling APC, linking the move to political tensions between Governor Eno and Udom Emmanuel.

However, in a statement released Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, Umanah firmly rejected the story.

He stressed that only the Inspector-General of Police or the State Commissioner of Police can authorize such withdrawals, not a sitting governor.

“I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor,” Umanah said.

He added that all former governors of Akwa Ibom State continue to receive the security protection they are entitled to by law and that no complaint or official report had been received from Udom Emmanuel or his aides regarding any such withdrawal.

“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel,” he added.

“The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”

Umanah reiterated that Governor Eno remains committed to peace, unity, and inclusive governance, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of political alignment, are treated fairly under the law.

Chief Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, has confessed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate, a startling admission that validates a two-year investigation by Premium Times, which found that he forged his academic credentials.

The minister, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in July 2023, had submitted academic and NYSC certificates that critics have long questioned.

These documents were used during his ministerial screening by the Senate.

Investigators from Premium Times uncovered that the UNN degree certificate he presented is fake and that his NYSC discharge certificate is also forged.

Despite years of suspicion and silence, Mr Nnaji has now publicly confirmed through a court affidavit that he never received a certificate from UNN.

The admission emerged in a case Nnaji filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He is seeking to prevent UNN and its officials from releasing his academic records and to compel the university to issue him a transcript.

In the 34-paragraph affidavit supporting his motion, Mr Nnaji stated that he was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and claimed to have “graduated” in 1985.

But then admitted he never collected a certificate, blaming “non-cooperative” university officials.

His own court filing referenced a 2023 letter from UNN to another media outlet that falsely claimed he had graduated.

However, UNN later recanted the letter, saying a proper search of 1985 graduation records showed no trace of Nnaji’s name.

UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya confirmed to Premium Times in a letter dated October 3, 2025, that:

“Mr Nnaji did not complete his programme and was not awarded a degree by the university.”

“His file is intact. It clearly shows he dropped out. The claim that he graduated is false” a senior university official added.

The university’s Registrar, Celine Nnebedum, who initially signed the misleading 2023 letter, later withdrew the statement in May 2025, acknowledging it was incorrect.

Mr Nnaji also claimed to have completed his NYSC service in 1985 and 1986, citing postings to University of Jos Teaching Hospital and Jos International Breweries.

But without a legitimate university degree, his NYSC service could not have been validly undertaken, further pointing to forgery.

In his ministerial profile submitted to the Senate, Mr Nnaji described himself as a:

“Visionary industrialist, oil and gas expert, construction giant, healthcare practitioner, trade and investment strategist and environmental protection expert.”

Yet, the document failed to include a graduation year or verifiable academic details.

Despite multiple attempts, Premium Times reports that Mr Nnaji Ignored inquiries sent since January 2024 and did not respond to calls, texts, or emails.

His office officially acknowledged receipt of the newspaper’s written questions, but he has remained silent on the matter.

The big question is, If the University of Nigeria never issued him a degree certificate, how did Mr Nnaji obtain the one he submitted for his ministerial appointment?