A panel set up by the minister of education Tunji Alausa has commended the vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Simon Ortuanya and a former acting vice-chancellor of the institution Oguejiofor Ujam for exposing the certificate forgery linked to former minister of innovation, science and technology Uche Nnaji.
The seven-member panel was set up on November 23, 2025, after Mr. Nnaji petitioned the education minister.
In the petition dated October 14, 2025, he accused UNN officials of disclosing his academic records without authorisation and manipulating documents.
Nnaji also accused Mr. Ortuanya and Mr. Ujam of issuing unauthorised correspondence, accessing his academic file and aiding media reports about his academic history.
The panel submitted its report to the minister in December 2025.
According to the report, Nnaji gained admission to UNN in the 1981/82 academic session to study biological sciences but did not graduate from the university.
It said the certificate dated July 1985 that Nnaji presented during his ministerial nomination process was not issued by the university and could not be verified in its records.
The report stated that the panel reviewed academic records, registry logs, senate lists, convocation archives and other documents during the investigation.
Members of the panel also visited the university and met with officials including the vice-chancellor, the former acting vice-chancellor and the registrar.
The panel said Ortuanya followed due process in responding to a Freedom of Information request from Premium Times about Nnaji’s academic records.
It stated that the vice-chancellor sought legal advice before responding and that the reply followed internal procedures and the Freedom of Information Act.
“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,” the report said.
The panel also said there was no evidence that documents were leaked or transmitted outside official procedures.
“The letter reached Premium Times through a formal FOI transmission and not through any unauthorised channel. Therefore, it does not constitute a breach of confidentiality,” the panel said.
The report also addressed two earlier letters issued by the university on Nnaji’s records.
In December 2023, the university registrar, Celine Nnebedum, told Peoples Gazette that Uche Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985.
However, in a letter dated May 23, 2025, the registrar later informed the Public Complaints Commission that a search of graduation records for the 1985 session did not show Nnaji’s name.
Ujam was acting vice-chancellor when the university responded to the Public Complaints Commission, while Ortuanya, who became vice-chancellor in August 2025, responded to the request from Premium Times in October that year.
The panel said the actions of the two officials helped clarify the records.
“These two officers should be commended for their ability to protect the truth and restore the dignity of man, which is the motto of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,” the report stated.
