Forgery & Power: How Fake Credentials Keep Staining Nigeria’s Political Elite

By NJORIGE LYNUS

FOR decades, Nigeria’s political class has been dogged by one recurring scandal: certificate forgery. From governors to ministers, senators to presidents, the allegations cut across party lines, generations, and governments.

Recent revelations about Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, have once again pulled the issue into public view—reviving questions about integrity, institutional complicity, and the culture of impunity that shields the powerful from consequences.

The Nnaji Scandal: Politics Meets Academia

An online publication recently accused Nnaji of forging the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly. The report claimed he never completed his degree and presented a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

Nnaji denied wrongdoing and blamed political enemies—particularly Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah—for orchestrating what he called a “witch-hunt” to tarnish his image. His spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, described the allegations as politically motivated, insisting the minister graduated in July 1985 with a B.Sc. in Microbiology/Biochemistry.

However, UNN officials told a different story. The university confirmed that Nnaji was once a student but failed a course, never re-sat for it, and therefore did not graduate.

Following the backlash, Nnaji resigned from Tinubu’s cabinet and demanded the release of his transcript to clear his name. But civil society groups insist resignation is not enough—they want criminal prosecution.

The presidency has since distanced itself, promising to act after the court hearing scheduled for 10th November.

A Long Line of Precedents

The Nnaji case fits into a long history of forged or questionable credentials in Nigeria’s political sphere—each episode revealing how power often trumps accountability.

Kemi Adeosun: “Trusted Associates” and a Fake NYSC Certificate

In 2018, Kemi Adeosun, then Minister of Finance, resigned after admitting that her NYSC exemption certificate was fake. Adeosun said she was misled by advisers when applying for the document, having lived most of her life in the UK. Her resignation letter described the incident as “a painful lesson,” yet no prosecution followed.

Dino Melaye: The Geography Graduate That Never Was

Senator Dino Melaye, known for his flamboyance and defiance, faced allegations that he never graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) despite claiming a B.A. in Geography. ABU does not offer that degree—it offers a B.Sc.

Multiple discrepancies emerged: mismatched names, forged transcripts, and conflicting certificates. Though Melaye denied everything and boasted of multiple degrees, the inconsistencies were never fully addressed, and the Senate ethics probe fizzled out.

Ademola Adeleke: The Dancing Senator’s Document Dilemma

Before becoming Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke faced accusations of falsifying his WAEC results and testimonial. Critics pointed out that his 1988 testimonial referenced Osun State—a state that did not exist until 1991.

Two PDP members took him to court, alleging forgery. The case was dismissed for lack of proof, and the Court of Appeal later cleared him to contest. Today, Adeleke governs Osun, the scandal all but forgotten.

Salisu Buhari: The Confession That Shocked a Nation

In 1999, Salisu Buhari, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, claimed to be a 36-year-old graduate of the University of Toronto. He was, in fact, 29—and had never attended the university.

After exposure by journalists, Buhari broke down in tears before a stunned nation, confessing to forgery and perjury. “I apologise to the nation,” he said. Though convicted, he was later pardoned, symbolizing how repentance—not justice—became the norm.

Evans Enwerem: The Senate’s First Scandal

Nigeria’s first Senate President of the Fourth Republic, Evans Enwerem, was impeached in 1999 after revelations that he falsified his name and age in official documents. The controversy—whether his name was “Evan” or “Evans”—was petty on the surface, but it exposed a deeper rot in Nigeria’s document verification system.

Stella Oduah: Degrees Under Scrutiny

In 2014, Aviation Minister Stella Oduah was accused of falsifying academic qualifications, including honorary degrees and her NYSC status. The uproar forced her resignation. Nearly a decade later, prosecutors attempted to reopen the case, highlighting how Nigeria’s slow justice system often helps controversies fade with time.

Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki: Politics of Certificates

The political feud between former Edo governors Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki also revolved around certificates.

While Oshiomhole once faced his own discrepancies, it was his party’s screening panel that disqualified Obaseki in 2020 over alleged inconsistencies in his NYSC records. The dispute triggered Obaseki’s defection to the PDP, illustrating how certificate wars often double as political weapons.

The NYSC later admitted it reissued a corrected certificate—vindicating Obaseki and exposing the APC’s internal rivalries.

Ayo Fayose: Accused but Acquitted

Ekiti State’s Ayo Fayose faced accusations of submitting a forged HND certificate. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the case, not necessarily affirming innocence but ruling that the allegations did not affect his election’s validity.

Even Presidents Not Spared

No one illustrates Nigeria’s certificate obsession better than its presidents.

• Muhammadu Buhari faced questions about his secondary school certificate in 2015.

• Goodluck Jonathan and Bola Tinubu have both been dogged by discrepancies in academic records and disputed documentation.

Tinubu’s case remains the most controversial, with U.S. court documents, name inconsistencies, and missing transcripts fueling public suspicion.

A System That Enables Forgery

Analysts say Nigeria’s certificate scandals persist because institutions lack both independence and political will to verify credentials thoroughly. Universities, security agencies, and electoral bodies often act under political pressure—or simply fail to act.

Dr. Chido Onumah, an anti-corruption researcher, notes that “forgery in Nigeria isn’t just a crime—it’s a career strategy. When political systems reward impunity, people will continue to fake it until they make it.”

In Nigeria, certificate scandals rarely end careers. They often become political talking points, weaponised during elections and forgotten afterward.

The Larger Consequence: Eroded Public Trust

From Uche Nnaji’s embattled resignation to Buhari’s 1999 tears, the recurring pattern is unmistakable—a political elite that operates above the law.

Every forgery allegation further discredits institutions, undermines education, and deepens public cynicism about leadership ethics.

As civil society groups call for criminal accountability in the Nnaji case, the question lingers:
How many more “graduates” in power have never truly graduated—from deceit?