Sh*ck Revelation: UNN Vice Chancellor Lauded by FG Panel Over Ex-Minister Scandal

An investigative panel established by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, and a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, for exposing the alleged certificate forgery involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The seven-member panel was set up on November 23, 2025, following a petition by Nnaji, after a two-year investigation by Premium Times suggested that the former minister may have forged his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. The panel submitted its report to the education minister in December 2025.

In his petition dated October 14, 2025, Nnaji accused senior officials of the university of unethical disclosure, document tampering, and politically manipulating his academic records. He alleged that Ortuanya and Ujam “issued forged or unauthorised correspondence, improperly accessed his academic file, and facilitated media publications that misrepresented his academic history.”

Nnaji also claimed that Ortuanya’s response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Premium Times, which confirmed that he did not graduate from the university, amounted to an unauthorised disclosure of confidential academic records.

The panel, chaired by Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, employed a methodology including documentary review, interviews, verification, and technical audit. Other members included James Ocheido, deputy director in the department serving as secretary, along with officials from the ministry and the National Universities Commission.

According to the report, the panel visited the UNN campus in Nsukka and engaged multiple officials, including the vice-chancellor, former acting vice-chancellor, registrar Celine Nnebedum, and staff from the records unit. They also reviewed academic files, internal correspondence, convocation archives, Senate-approved graduation lists, and electronic access logs related to Nnaji’s records.

The panel concluded that the vice-chancellor’s response to the FOI request was conducted according to due process and in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. The report noted that Ortuanya had sought legal guidance from the university’s legal unit before responding.

“There is no evidence of external directives, political influence, unauthorised inputs, or bypassing of procedural steps. The approval process complied with internal procedures, FOI obligations, and legal advice. All steps were documented and traceable,” the panel stated.