Despite seeming iron-cast evidence indicting him of alleged forgery of his certificates, Uchechukwu Geoffrey Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology who resigned on Tuesday from the Federal Executive Council, insists he is innocent.
Nnaji said in a statement on Tuesday night that his will to step down should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt but came from a deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians.
Neswmata.com.ng reports that the minister, who had been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the authenticity of his degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, resigned following intense pressure after an investigative report by Premium Times, an online newspaper, disclosed that the authorities of the UNN and NYSC had disowned the certificates he had presented to the presidency, the Department of State Security and the Senate in 2023 following his ministerial nomination by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Nnaji said:
“These unfounded allegations and media distortions have not only caused personal distress but have also begun to distract from the vital work of the ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President.
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court.”
Blaming his predicament on political foes, the former minister said the allegations were part of “an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood” against him.
According to Nnaji, “This decision did not come lightly. Over the past week, an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks have been waged against my person, integrity, and office across print, electronic, and social media platforms.
“These unfounded allegations and media distortions have not only caused personal distress but have also begun to distract from the vital work of the Ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
“As someone who has spent more than five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work, honour, and service to humanity, I cannot in good conscience allow these distractions to cast a shadow over the noble objectives of this administration.
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court. In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just.”
Expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, Nnaji reaffirmed his loyalty to the administration’s vision of a technologically driven Nigeria.
“I remain deeply grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence he reposed in me and for the privilege to serve in his cabinet.
“His vision for a renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria is one I continue to hold dear, and I pledge my unflinching support to his administration and its transformative goals,” he stated.
