Activist and public commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has reacted to the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, saying he should refund all the salaries and allowances he received while in office.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, Shehu described Nnaji as a “disgraced minister,” saying the former official earned public funds “through fraud” and should pay them back.
Shehu added that Nnaji’s resignation should serve as a warning to others in government allegedly using forged certificates to hold public office.
“Others yet to resign; forgers occupying various government seats should prepare, because their days are counted. Like Nnaji never expected his exit so soon, they should expect theirs very soon, either willingly or unwillingly,” he said.
Nnaji resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet on Tuesday following investigations which revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) had disowned the Bachelors of Science degree he claimed to possess.
According to the report, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya confirmed that while Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
The investigation also showed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could not authenticate the certificate of national service Nnaji presented.
However, the Presidency, in a statement on Tuesday signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed that the former minister had stepped down from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to the statement, Nnaji tendered his resignation in a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the nation.
“He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria,” the statement read.
The Presidency claimed that Nnaji had been a target of blackmail and political attacks by his opponents.
In his own statement, Nnaji explained that his decision to resign was a personal one aimed at upholding due process and allowing justice to take its course.
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court,” he said.
He expressed confidence that he would be vindicated
“In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just.”
Nnaji should return all salaries, allowances earned under false pretence – Mahdi Shehu
