FORGERY: WHY GEOFFREY NNAJI SHOULD BE SUSPENDED, INVESTIGATED: HEDA called on the National Assembly to launch a thorough investigation into the forgery allegations'

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called for an immediate suspension and comprehensive investigation into allegations of certificate forgery against Geoffrey Nnaji, the Minister of Science and Technology. In separate petitions addressed to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, HEDA urged immediate action to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s public offices and institutions.

The petitions, signed by HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju, were prompted by a June 6, 2024 report from an online news outlet, Peoples’ Gazette, which claimed that Mr. Nnaji submitted a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate during his Senate confirmation process. The report also highlighted potential discrepancies in his B.Sc degree certificate and noted that Mr. Nnaji listed secondary education as his highest qualification on his 2023 Enugu State governorship election form.

In the letter to President Tinubu, the civil society organisation expressed grave concerns over the Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS), which allegedly discovered these discrepancies but failed to act or report to the senate or president. This negligence, the petition argued, compromises the SSS’s duty and mirrors past incidents involving other prominent figures accused of similar forgeries.

HEDA cited Sections 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act, which define forgery and its punishment, respectively. The anti-corruption group urged President Tinubu to refer the allegations to the Inspector General of Police for a diligent investigation and subsequent prosecution. It also called for the immediate suspension of Mr. Nnaji to maintain accountability and transparency in governance.

Similarly, in the petition to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, HEDA called on the National Assembly to launch a thorough investigation into the forgery allegations. Highlighting the importance of rigorous verification processes, HEDA stressed that the integrity of processes must be upheld.

The petition also referenced past cases of certificate forgeries involving high-profile figures like former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and former Aviation Minister Senator Stella Oduah. HEDA criticized the SSS for its repeated failure to report such forgeries, thereby undermining the Senate’s constitutional duties and the nation’s integrity.

HEDA recommended involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a secondary clearance process for all future nominees to prevent further certificate scandals. “We strongly urge the National Assembly to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter. It is crucial that the SSS’s role and the potential lapses or compromises in the clearance process are scrutinized and rectified,” the petition stated.

Both petitions underscored HEDA’s unwavering commitment to a Nigeria free from corrupt practices. The civil society group urged swift action from both the President and the National Assembly to ensure that public office holders maintain the highest standards of integrity.