Enugu — A former lecturer and businessman, Dr. Uchenna Nnaji, has taken legal action against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) following allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Enugu, seeks judicial intervention to compel the university and the commission to produce official records verifying the authenticity of Nnaji’s academic qualifications.
Court documents obtained on Tuesday show that Nnaji is demanding a public clarification from both institutions, alleging that the controversy surrounding his academic credentials has caused “irreparable damage” to his reputation and professional standing.
Nnaji, who once served as a visiting lecturer at the university, claimed that his name had been wrongly associated with a forged certificate purportedly issued by UNN. He accused the institution of negligence and the NUC of failing to properly verify or authenticate the disputed documents before making public statements that, according to him, implied wrongdoing.
In his statement of claim, Nnaji argued that the scandal was politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his image. He further alleged that several attempts to obtain an official verification letter from the university had been frustrated by internal bureaucracy and what he described as “institutional silence.”
The plaintiff is seeking a court declaration affirming the validity of his certificates, a public apology from the defendants, and monetary damages for defamation and emotional distress.
Officials of both the UNN and NUC have declined to comment on the matter, citing the pendency of the case before the court. However, sources within the university confirmed that internal investigations were ongoing to ascertain the origin and authenticity of the disputed documents.
The case is expected to come up for hearing later this month before Justice C. O. Ajah of the Federal High Court, Enugu.
The development has stirred debate within academic circles, with stakeholders calling for greater transparency in record verification processes across Nigerian universities to curb the growing incidence of certificate fraud.
