The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s response to the certificate‑forgery scandal involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Geoffrey Nnaji. The party stresses that forgery is a criminal offence that must be prosecuted, not pardoned. In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi called the president’s decision to merely accept Nnaji’s resignation “weak and disappointing,” arguing that it signals a lack of seriousness from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in combating corruption.
The scandal centers on Nnaji’s admission that his academic certificates were fake, a claim verified by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), both of which disowned the documents he presented for his ministerial appointment. The ADC views this as part of a disturbing pattern linking the APC to certificate scandals, suggesting that dishonesty has become a defining feature of its administration. The party warns that if President Tinubu cannot act decisively in this clear case, it will undermine the credibility of his government’s anti‑corruption commitments.
Accordingly, the ADC is urging relevant law‑enforcement agencies to launch an independent investigation, emphasizing that resignation does not erase criminal liability. The party insists that, if found guilty, Nnaji should be prosecuted in accordance with the law; anything less would amount to a cover‑up. This development has significant implications for Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against corruption, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in public service. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how law‑enforcement agencies will respond to the ADC’s call and what consequences, if any, Nnaji will face.
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