Robert Ngwu, spokesperson for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has accused the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), of tampering with and manipulating the minister’s academic records.
Ngwu made the allegation during an interview on The Morning Brief on Tuesday, amid ongoing accusations that Nnaji forged his certificate following his 2023 political appointment.
The minister, who is currently in court over the matter, told Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court that UNN had refused to release his academic transcript despite his formal request.
Nnaji, who said he earned a BSc in Microbiology/Biochemistry with second-class honours (lower division) in 1985, argued that the institution had no justification to withhold his records.
“He didn’t ask the institution not to touch his academic records. He said they should not tamper with or manipulate them because information from a student’s personal file was leaked online. That means somebody is deliberately doing that,” Ngwu said.
He alleged that political bias within the university leadership was influencing the issue. “You have an Acting VC who is a card-carrying member of the PDP… The minister was jittery because it is a legal politics, and you know how legal politics are,” he added.
Ngwu further claimed that despite Nnaji’s payment for his transcript in May, the document had yet to be released.
During Monday’s court session, the minister reportedly sought judicial protection, asking the court to prevent the university from further tampering with his files and to compel the release of his transcript.
“The injunctions were granted,” Ngwu said, adding that the court also directed the supervising authority to ensure proper oversight of the university.
