Nigerian politics has never been associated with anything other than intrigues, profound rivalries, and subtle politicking where only the powerful managed to survive. There is, however, a perpetual controversy that has continued hanging over the country’s politics: certificate scandals.
It has spanned from governors to ministers, legislators, and presidents, where forgery or questionable academic achievements have plagued the political scene, questioning the integrity and accountability of the leaders.
Uche Nnaji
Most recently is Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. The internet platform accused him of issuing fake academic certificates from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and issuing a forged NYSC certificate to present to the National Assembly in confirmation of him as minister.
Nnaji refuted the allegations, which he said were being perpetrated by Enugu State governor Peter Mbah’s purported political witch-hunt to unseat him from the APC. Through his spokesman, Dr. Robert Ngwu, the minister insisted he graduated in 1985 with a B.Sc. in Microbiology/Biochemistry.
But UNN disputed. Nnaji, during his student days, flunked a course and didn’t graduate. The presidency has now said.t will wait for the court ruling in November. Nnaji quit amid heightened pressure for prosecution.
Kemi Adeosun
In 2018, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun resigned when her NYSC exemption certificate was discovered to have been forged. UK-born Adeosun claimed she didn’t know about the NYSC requirement and had left “trusted associates” to deal with it, who showed her a forged one. She still claimed forgery after resignation.
Dino Melaye
Former Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West in 2017 was accused of forging academic certificates from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. Sahara Reporters claimed that Melaye had not graduated but further investigations proved that there was a “Daniel Jonah Melaye” who graduated with a third-class degree in ABU which raised doubts on his real identity. Melaye alleged tht the allegations were politically instigated.
Ademola Adeleke
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke underwent many court cases for forgery of his school certificate and WAEC. His rivals criticized discrepancies in his certificates, like a testimonial of 1988 using the name Osun State before its conception. Courts, nonetheless, cleared him to run.
Evans Enwerem
Evan Enwerem was a President of the Senate in 1999 but was ousted within five months on charges of name and age forgery. Impeachment followed the row as to whether his name was “Evan” or “Evans,” led by political rivals Chuba Okadigbo.
Salisu Buhari
Salisu Buhari, House of Representatives Speaker, was in 1999 caught forging his age and asserting a University of Toronto degree, which was denied him by the institution. Buhari then later admitted it on national television, apologizing for forgery and perjury.
Stella Oduah
Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah was targeted in 2014 for academic qualification forgery and discrepancy in her NYSC documents. The issue again arose in 2023 when prosecutors put her purported misrepresentations in court once more.
Adams Oshiomhole
Former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole was perpetually accused of certificate forgery, the usual one leveled in election disputes. But the majority of such cases were struck out on technical reasons, with the courts interpreting that they were pre-election issues and not issues of fraud.
Godwin Obaseki
Godwin Obaseki, the interim successor of Oshiomhole, was also asked questions regarding inconsistencies in his certificates during the 2020 APC primaries. Disqualified by the party due to inconsistencies, he defected to the PDP. The NYSC later re-issued him with a corrected certificate, and the courts cleared him of any eligibility issues.
Ayo Fayose
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, was accused by his political rivals of forging an HND certificate. Even though the case made it to the Supreme Court in 2015, the forgery allegation was overruled and Fayose remained in power.
Buhari, Tinubu, and Jonathan
Even Nigeria’s leading politicians have not been exempt. Former President Muhammadu Buhari was accused of missing an SSCE certificate prior to the 2015 elections, and former Presidents Bola Tinubu and Goodluck Jonathan were dragged at some point too to respond to questions about their education.
Even with all these gaffes, the cases usually concluded in no definitive legal repercussions, cementing the fact that controversy over education in Nigerian politics has nothing to do with accountability and everything to do with politicking.
From the resignation of Uche Nnaji up to the ongoing questions over national leaders, the certificate scandals saga keeps revealing deep fault lines in Nigeria’s political and institutional integrity where politics instead of justice rules the verdict.
