By Peter Omopo
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for the prosecution of public officials found guilty of certificate forgery, warning that such acts risk entrenching a culture of deceit and criminality in Nigeria’s governance system.
Obi made the remarks in a statement on Monday following an investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES, which revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the Bachelor of Science degree presented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji. According to the report, court filings before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, indicated that Nnaji himself admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.
The report further stated that the minister had instituted a lawsuit against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, and several of its top officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, and a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam.
Obi Decries Erosion of Public Morality
Reacting to the development, Obi lamented that individuals who should be “exemplary in conduct” have become the “very source of the nation’s decay.” He warned that when public officials model dishonest behaviour, they weaken the moral fabric of society and set a dangerous precedent for younger generations.
“When forgery and deceit are rewarded with power, the nation’s moral compass is broken. True leadership must begin with truth,” Obi said.
Drawing a comparison with Indonesia, Obi noted that in other countries, false academic claims lead to immediate disqualification and prosecution, but in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) often fails to verify candidates’ certificates before elections.
“Though our laws are clear that forgery is a crime, INEC makes no effort to scrutinize certificates before elections. Complaints are ignored, and when raised after elections, courts dismiss them as ‘pre-election matters,’” he added.
Calls for Reform Ahead of 2027 Elections
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obi proposed reforms to strengthen electoral transparency and prevent forgery among aspirants. He urged that all political candidates be required to submit academic certificates to INEC immediately after party primaries, with such documents made public for verification within 90 days.
“We have enough time before 2027. INEC must investigate past complaints about forgeries and false claims. The same verification process should apply to ministers, appointees, and aides,” he stated.
Obi emphasized that criminal offences like forgery should not be trivialized or dismissed as procedural issues, stressing that Nigeria must “end the era where deceit is rewarded with public office.”
