Uche Nnaji Faults Reports on Certificate Allegations, Says Truth Will Be Tested in Court

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has criticised reports on allegations that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned certificates allegedly linked to him.

Nnaji’s reaction followed testimony by Yakubu Ibrahim, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. Ibrahim reportedly told the court that UNN and the NYSC disowned the certificates allegedly presented by the former minister.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Dr Robert Ngwu on behalf of Nnaji’s defence team, the former minister’s lawyers called for accurate and balanced reporting of the ongoing proceedings. They accused some reports of presenting allegations by the prosecution as established facts, despite the trial not having concluded and no judgment having been delivered.

The defence team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the prosecution had called its first witness, who was subsequently cross-examined by the defence.

The lawyers also clarified that the case had been adjourned until November 5, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.

According to the defence, although the court admitted documents tendered by the prosecution, it ruled that objections to their admissibility could be considered during final addresses. The team stressed that admitting documents into evidence did not amount to a judicial finding that the allegations had been established.

“The admission of documents is part of the trial process; it is not a finding that the allegations have been proved,” the statement said.

Nnaji’s defence team argued that omissions and the emphasis placed on certain details in reports raised questions about whether the proceedings had been presented in their full context.

“The truth will be tested in court,” the lawyers added, maintaining that the allegations remained subject to the judicial process.

The trial is expected to resume on November 5, 2026, when proceedings will continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.