Certificate scandals: How alleged forgery continues to haunt Nigerian politics

In a country where academic qualifications are often a prerequisite for political office, controversies surrounding alleged certificate forgery continue to surface in Nigeria’s political space.

Over the years, several politicians have faced scrutiny, lawsuits and public criticism over claims that their educational credentials were falsified or misrepresented.

Recently, the committee set by the federal government found Uche Nnaji, former minister of innovation, science and technology guilty of certificate forgery scandal.

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the controversy of forged or questionable certificates has become a recurring cankerworm.

Allegations of certificate forgery have been made against both elected officials and appointees, ranging from state governors and lawmakers to ministers and even presidential candidates.

In fact, Nigerians have adopted a detrimental attitude to certificate forgery among politicians to the extent of insisting that it does not matter if one has a genuine certificate, provided he or she is from our tribe, he is the best.

Read also: How Nnaji’s certificate alleged forgery exposes Nigeria’s immoral values tradition

Here are some notable cases of certificate scandals within the political space;

Uche Nnaji

Uche Nnaji, the former minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, was found guilty of forging his first degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he claimed to have graduated from.

Though he was admitted into the university, the committee discovered that he did not graduate but forged his certificate. Nnaji had claimed he graduated in 1985 and completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jos the following year. However, the committee found him guilty of the claim.

Bola Tinubu

The Nigerian president was alleged to have forged his Chicago State University (CSU) diploma, according to a court case filed by the opposition party leader.

The accusers asked a US court to compel CSU to release Tinubu’s records. The Chicago State University complied but explained that it no longer retains copies of diplomas once they are collected.

Stella Oduah

Stella Oduah, a former senator tested forgery scandals allegations as her academic records and claims were subject of controversy. According to her National Assembly profile, she had claimed to have studied at St. Paul’s College in Virginia, United States, between 1978 and 1982, where she earned a degree in Accounting.

However, in an investigative report, SaharaReporters alleged that Oduah fabricated her academic credentials, noting that the then-president of St. Paul’s College, Claud Flythe, refused to either verify or deny her claims.

She was also accused of misrepresenting whether she completed the NYSC scheme and used falsified documents to secure appointments as a minister and later as a senator.

Muhammadu Buhari

The immediate past president of Nigeria was entangled in a certificate controversy as far back as 2015, when he was questioned about the absence of his secondary school certificate after he emerged as the APC presidential candidate.

In 2019, the controversy resurfaced, as Buhari failed to include his academic credentials among the documents submitted to INEC, and censors accused him of lacking even a secondary school education.

Read also: Electoral Act: Outrage over removal of certificate forgery as ground for election petition

Kemi Adeosun

Kemi Adeosun, a former minister of finance was forced to resign in 2018 amid allegations that she had presented a forged NYSC exemption certificate.

Adeosun in her resignation letter explained that she was unaware the exemption certificate was “not genuine,” stating she had obtained it through a third party.

She explained that, having lived and schooled abroad, she believed she was exempt from serving under NYSC rules.

 Dino Melaye

The ever controversial Dino Melaye, a former senator, was subjected to allegations of certificate forgery. The controversy dates back to 2017 when SaharaReporters claimed that he did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), despite his claims to have earned a degree in Geography.

The university also confirmed that Melaye holds a Statement of Results indicating he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) with Third Class Honours, but insisted there were discrepancies.

For example, the statement uses “B.A Geography,” whereas ABU offers B.Sc Geography under its Faculty of Science, not a Bachelor of Arts.

 Ayodele Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, was involved in controversy over the legitimacy of his Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The allegation first gained grip ahead of the 2014 governorship election when his opponents alleged that he submitted a fake HND certificate to INEC and that the Polytechnic denied ever having him as a student.

However, there has been no public court ruling or verifiable statement that definitively confirms or invalidates his HND certificate claim.

Adams Oshiomole

Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo State faced longstanding allegations concerning the authenticity of his primary and secondary school credentials.

According to the allegation, Oshiomhole stated that he attended Iyamoh Primary School, Iyamoh, from 1957 to 1962, but records from the Edo State Ministry of Education indicate that Iyamoh Primary School was founded in 1963, a year after he claimed to have graduated from there.

Besides, he claimed to have graduated Blessed Martin’s Secondary Modern School in 1965, but his name was not in the listed graduands of that school for that year.

Ademola Adeleke

Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent governor of Osun State, faced numerous allegations regarding his academic qualifications. He was accused of falsifying his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and secondary school testimonial to secure the PDP ticket for the September 22, 2018.