Following an investigation by Premium Times alleging the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates to the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023, and both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the National Youth Service Corps reportedly disowning the documents, the Minister resigned on Tuesday.
The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reacting on Wednesday described the resignation of the Minister as an “attempt to whitewash yet another scandal”.
Atiku in a post on X, said the minister should have been dismissed and prosecuted rather than being allowed to “quietly exit through the backdoor.”
“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor… again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.”
Atiku criticised the Department of State Services, for clearing Nnaji despite alleged discrepancies in his credentials but allegedly disqualified former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from ministerial screening over security concerns.
He called for an independent investigation into the credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, including the President, insisting that Nigerians deserved to know the truth about those in public office.
“Until this cleansing is done, Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment,” he said.
