Amid scandals involving his academic records and claims of certificate fabrication, Geoffrey Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a letter to the President on Tuesday, Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, announced his retirement while thanking him for the chance to serve.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Tuesday. In August 2023, Nnaji was appointed by President Tinubu.
In a letter expressing gratitude to the President for enabling him to serve Nigeria, he announced his resignation today. Nnaji said that his political rivals have blackmailed him. President Tinubu wished him luck in his future ambitions and thanked him for his service.
Nnaji’s departure coincides with ongoing controversy concerning his academic credentials from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as well as allegations of certificate fraud.
Nnaji’s presentation of fraudulent certificates was the subject of a verbal exchange between him and the Enugu State Government.
After Nnaji’s attempt to prevent the University of Nigeria from disclosing his academic records was denied by the Federal High Court in Enugu, the conflict grew more heated.
Further public scrutiny was stoked by the court’s ruling that the institution was legally permitted to disclose the minister’s academic details in response to a freedom of information request.
However, Nnaji maintained that political rivals who were out to damage his reputation were blackmailing him.
