A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a request by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, for an order to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), from releasing his academic records.
The ruling, delivered on September 22 by Justice Hausa Yilwa, rejected the Minister’s application for an interim injunction, a key move Nnaji had hoped would shield his academic history from public scrutiny amid intense forgery allegations.
Minister Nnaji had approached the court with an ex parte motion, seeking to restrain the university from releasing or tampering with his academic transcript.
In the certified true copy (CTC) of the ruling, Justice Yilwa acknowledged that Nnaji had a “sufficient interest” in the case but firmly declined the core relief sought by the applicant.
”I find that the applicant has sufficient interest in the matter, and the application is partly meritorious,” the judge stated.
“Accordingly, prayers 1, 2 and 3 are granted, while prayer 4, which sought an injunction, is declined.”
Justice Yilwa further clarified that the court’s decision should not be interpreted as preventing any party from performing its lawful duties, effectively allowing UNN to proceed with the release of the records if required by law.
Context of Allegations
The legal action comes as Minister Nnaji faces significant pressure over allegations that he submitted forged credentials during his ministerial confirmation process before the Nigerian Senate and President Bola Tinubu.
An investigation revealed that Nnaji allegedly did not complete his university education.
The allegations specifically claim that both the bachelor’s degree and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to the government offices—including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Department of State Services (DSS)—were fabricated.
