Civil groups and legal experts have urged Science Minister Uche Nnaji to step down following allegations that he forged his university certificate.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, says Nnaji never completed his studies, contradicting his earlier claims.
Pressure is mounting on the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, to resign following allegations of certificate forgery.
Civil society groups, including CISLAC and Transparency International Nigeria, called on the minister to “resign and apologise to the nation.” CISLAC director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said, “If you lie in your certificate and it is exposed, you need simply to resign because you cannot be promoting lies and fraud.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed Nnaji’s request to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from releasing his academic record. The university has since disowned the certificate, stating that Nnaji did not complete his studies.
Legal experts have urged the federal government to suspend him pending investigation, noting that certificate forgery is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Nnaji has denied wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “politically motivated” and blaming Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.