Peter Obi urges prosecution over Nigerian minister certificate forgery

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has strongly condemned certificate forgery in Nigeria, highlighting a recent scandal involving Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, who admitted to not receiving a university degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Obi warned that such fraudulent behavior among public officials risks normalizing crime and corroding the moral standards of young Nigerians, calling for immediate and systemic action including prosecution of those guilty. He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to adequately scrutinize academic credentials before elections, contrasting Nigeria's lax enforcement with Indonesia's strict disqualification and prosecution policies for forged qualifications. Obi also emphasized that leaders who should exemplify integrity have instead contributed to societal decay by modeling dishonesty. He urged Nigerian authorities to amend electoral laws to require all candidates to submit verified academic certificates well in advance of elections. Overall, Obi's statements underscore a pressing need to restore accountability and integrity in Nigeria’s political system to combat corruption and uphold public trust.