Governor Siminalayi Fubara has reacted to the fire that engulfed a section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex on Monday evening, October 6, which destroyed some properties.

The fire was said to have started after office hours on the ground floor of the Podium Block and damaged part of the nine-storey building.

Fubara dissolves Rivers’ pension board

The fire outbreak came barely a week after the governor announced the dissolution of the Rivers State Pensions Board. It was gathered that the office of the board was not affected, despite being close to section of the complex gutted by the inferno.

According to The Punch, Governor Fubara and the immediate past administration of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), recently approved funds for the renovation of the secretariat.

Addressing the fire incident on behalf of the governor, the state head of service, Inyinge Brown, explained that the fire was a result of an electric fault and that there was no casualty.

Brown further explained that operatives of the Rivers State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, Renaissance, and the military swiftly responded to the situation to stop the blaze.

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Nigerians react to Rivers fire incident

The video of the fire incident that emerged on social media has started generating mixed reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:

Foundational Ijesa man wrote: “Because the governor says head go roll, perm secs done move into action. If we can’t solve the civil service problem, Nigeria can never be free.”

Victor Oliseh blamed the situation on corruption: “If you know how deep corruption is in this country, we won’t wait till 2027 before we decide to pay this bunch of evil beings their rewards.”

SafetyOne condemned people near the fire: “See people inhaling toxic smoke like it’s nothing. ‘People push for lack of knowledge’ Inhaling CO-contained smoke can kill you in 5 minutes, especially for someone with underlying health issues who is probably in that crowd.”

Tal Ebraheem John commented: “This tells you how insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, killings and other sundries thrive in a country.”

Mohammed Inde commented: “Records which Fubara set eyes on as evidence are gone! So none of the perm sects would be unhappy.”

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Pressure has continued to mount on President Bola Tinubu to break his silence on the forgery case against the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, as senior lawyers, activists, as well as opposition political parties and leaders called for a thorough probe and resignation or removal of the presidential aide, as reported by ThisDay.

This followed revelations that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) disowned the academic and service certificates he presented during his Senate screening in 2023.

But the minister yesterday refuted allegations of certificate forgery against him, alleging that it was politically motivated, and well-crafted by a governor to tarnish his reputation ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Enugu state.

The alleged forgery gained national attention after UNN, in a letter dated October 2, 2025, stated that it did not issue the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree certificate in Biochemistry and Microbiology, which the minister claimed to have obtained in July 1985.

The letter, signed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, explained that while Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981 to study Biochemistry and Microbiology, he did not complete the programme and therefore could not have been issued a graduation certificate.

“From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study,” the university stated.

Reacting to the development, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Seyi Sowemimo, described the allegations as serious and called for an independent investigation.

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“I don’t see how the minister would tender a forged certificate. That would be criminal conduct—something that should be investigated. If it is found that the certificate is indeed forged, then this would amount to criminal conduct, and we would demand that he be removed from office,” Sowemimo said.

Similarly, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN) advised that the minister should “do the honourable thing and resign” if the allegations are substantiated after due inquiry.

Similarly, in a statement by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Monday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) blamed President Bola Tinubu for the continued stay in office of the minister, saying that if the minister is not honourable enough to resign, the Tinubu administration should remove him from office.

“A ministry whose mandate is to drive innovation, research, and the advancement of knowledge is now tainted by the dubious credentials of the man that President Tinubu has found fit to serve,” it added.

Also, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN) has said that any public officer accused of certificate forgery owes Nigerians a duty to come clean.

Also, the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, described forgery as a serious offence which should not be treated with kid gloves.

Osigwe, responding to a question, said that while he may not want to comment on the issue because he was not seized of the facts of the allegation, any public servant accused of forgery should prove his innocence.

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“However, where the minister or whoever is alleged does not come out openly to either rebuff or prove that the certificate he is carrying is authentic, the matter should be referred for investigation because the public has the right to know whether the certificate being used by such a person is indeed forged or authentic,” he said.

Also, Obi, the LP presidential candidate, in a post on his X handle, said the country was not firm enough on public office holders, who were found to have forged their certificates.

According to him, whenever he talks about Nigeria being a crime scene, those who are part of the criminality and their hirelings will quickly start their noise-making, attacking and blackmailing him.

He said: “How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest and upright when those they are supposed to emulate are the least to be emulated because they are criminals and dishonest? Certificate forgery is a serious criminal offence in all countries of the world. It is one of the most corrupt practices heavily punished.”

Speaking further on the need for proper verification of certificates, Obi alleged that many public office holders today are parading forged certificates backed by fraudulent affidavits, which they used in 2023, after “scaling through” both INEC, security and Senate screening with forged documents.

“How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest and upright when those they are supposed to emulate are the least to be emulated because they are criminals and dishonest? Certificate forgery is a serious criminal offence in all countries of the world. It is one of the most corrupt practices heavily punished,” he said.

The former Anambra State Governor referenced Indonesia where if there’s forgery of educational qualifications required to participate in elections from local government to the state legislature, governorship, and up to the presidential level, they will be prosecuted.

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“But in my country Nigeria, though the laws are same as in other countries, that forgery is punished by immediate disqualification, the INEC makes no effort to scrutinise certificates before the elections, overlooks complaints of forgery and when you challenge them after the elections, court will dismiss the serious criminal issues as ‘pre-election matters’ without giving this criminal act appropriate punishment.

“INEC, even after the elections, does not bother to revisit or investigate these serious offences before the next election. The other concerning issue from all these is how criminals and dishonest people scale through all the scrutiny layers -security, parliament and government apparatus set to handle such.

“Even more disturbing, amounting to double tragedy, is that most of these dishonest people swore an affidavit before a law court attesting to the authenticity of the documents they presented. We are now preparing for the 2027 general elections. INEC has enough time to investigate past complaints about various forms of forgery and false claims.

“Our electoral amendments must include that anyone intending to contest for any public office, whether an incumbent or a new candidate, must submit all academic certificates to the electoral body immediately after party primaries, at least six months before the election.

“These certificates, alongside details of schools attended, what was studied, and years of study, should be made public for verification within 90 days. This process must also apply to appointed officials, ministers, and even aides, because when dishonesty starts from the top, it spreads to every level of governance, just like it’s happening now,” Obi argued.

In his intervention, human rights advocate Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, commented on the broader implications of the case:

“This story might shock the rest of the world, but in Nigeria, it seems par for the course. The Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology appears to have decided that innovation should start with himself—by allegedly forging a university degree and claiming one from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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“In reality, he is a university dropout. Importantly, Nigerian law does not require Ministers to hold a university degree, making this a gratuitous act of deceit rather than a legal necessity.

“He is neither the first nor likely the last in the current administration to present questionable credentials. The government is reportedly full of individuals with forged documents, criminal records, or sometimes both. Ultimately, this administration may be remembered for making it abundantly clear that, in its view, the only standards that seem to matter are criminal ones,” he stated.

However, Nnaji, has refuted allegations of certificate forgery against him as reported by a section of the Nigerian media.

Nnaji, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, alleged that it was politically motivated, and well-crafted by the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to tarnish his reputation ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Represented by his Special Adviser, Media, Dr. Robert Ngwu, the minister threatened legal action against those he said were spreading what he described as fake news.

Ngwu stated that the minister was admitted into UNN to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1981 and graduated in 1985 with Second class Honours (Lower Division) contrary to some media reports that he did not obtain any certificate in 1985.

The media aide flaunted a document dated December 21, 2023 issued from the office of the UNN Registrar, Dr. Celine Ngozi Nnebedum, and signed by IAS Onyeador on behalf of the former.

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The document, he stated, was in response to an inquiry by Samuel Ogundipe of the People’s Gazette seeking for the minister’s academic records.

The document read: ”This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji with registration number 1981/30725 was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/ Biochemistry in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/ Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons) Lower Division.”

He added that the document was the official position of the university, noting that it remains very much valid.

The ministerial aide added that the document relied upon by the online platform for its “malicious and false narrative” was issued in May 2025, allegedly written by the university claiming that there were no records of the minister’s graduation.

He said: “Starting from May 2025, a purported letter surfaced allegedly written by the university suddenly claiming that there were no records of the ministers’ graduation. The question every Nigerian should ask is simple and logical: what changed between December 2023 and October 2025?”

He accused the then acting VC and the incumbent VC of orchestrating the purported new document, alleging that they are card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hired by the governor to do a hatchet job.

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“By Academic convention worldwide, the Registrar and not the Vice Chancellor is the custodian of all examination and graduation records. Any attempt by the Vice chancellor to assume that role is an aberration in the university protocol and in his case an obvious political overreach,” he said.

The minister’s spokesman said that when his principal got wind of an attempt to tamper or alter his academic files, he immediately sought legal redress by approaching the Federal High Court In Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, presided by justice HJ Yilwa.

According to him, on September 22, 2025, the court granted a series of protective orders, including an injunction restraining the Vice Chancellor and management of UNN from tampering or continuing to tamper with Nnaji’s academic records.

The second order, he said, was an order of Mandamus compelling the university to release his academic transcripts, while a third order was a directive to the supervising authorities to ensure compliance through their disciplinary power.

“These are not speculative claims, they are certified orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and that alone should settle the matter. Unfortunately, instead of adhering strictly to the valid court order, the Vice Chancellor of the UNN, a lawyer by profession, resorted to cyber bullying and politically-motivated media trial against Chief Nnaji,” the media aide alleged.

He stressed: “It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity, it is about political desperation disguised as academic inquiry. The timing, the sources, the false documents and the paid narratives all point to a coordinated campaign to drag a reputable public servant into the mud of partisan politics. But Nigerians are wiser than that.

“The facts are before the court, the document is in public domain and the truth cannot be buried under political propaganda.”

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The minister, he added, cannot be distracted by those who want to weaponise institutions and media platforms for political He said that this was also reflected in the institution’s convocation brochure which remains part of the UNN archives, stressing that any other claim or document to the contrary is false, malicious and politically motivated.

However, there was a seeming inconsistency in the names presented in the document and the university convocation brochure.

In the document presented, the minister’s name was given as Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, while the brochure had Nnaji GG Uchenna, which the media aide dismissed as inconsequential.

When pressed further on the need to make his certificate public to clear any doubt on the controversy, he claimed the minister had made it public by submitting to the Department of State Services(DSS) during the ministerial screening .

In the same vein, hearing in the suit filed by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Nnaji, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, failed to proceed as scheduled, due to the inability of the lawyer to the UNN and its officials to file their responses against the suit.

Trial judge, Justice Yilwa subsequently adjourned the matter until November 10 for hearing.

The minister had dragged the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya, to court, following allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him.

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While the Education Minister, NUC, UNN and Prof. Ortuanya are the 1st to 4th respondents, the 5th to 7th respondents are the Registrar, UNN; a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam; and the Senate respectively, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025.

Nnaji, in an ex-parte motion, had sought an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting the university and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records.

The applicant in addition also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him, and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.

In another relief, the minister also sought an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit, among others.

But in her ruling on September 22, the judge granted three of the reliefs sought by Nnaji but declined to issue any injunctive order against the respondents, before adjourning the matter to October 6, for further hearing.

Meanwhile, when the matter was called on Monday, Nnaji was represented by Sebastine Hon, SAN, while E.M. Asogwa appeared for the 3rd to 7th respondents (UNN and its officers). However, no lawyer appeared for either the Minister of Education or NUC (1st and 2nd respondents). Hon, therefore, told the court that all the parties in the suit had been served.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded that President Bola Tinubu urgently sanitise his cabinet by sacking and suspending ministers entangled in alleged corruption and forgery scandals.

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The rights group warned that the President’s silence in the face of mounting allegations and presumed evidence of alleged misconduct portrays him as indifferent to accountability, transparency, and the fight against corruption.

In a statement issued, by Emmanuel Onwubiko National Coordinator, said that by keeping silence, Tinubu is aiding corruption

HURIWA described Tinubu’s refusal to act despite weighty allegations against members of his cabinet as “disrespectful to Nigerians who are the rightful custodians of national sovereignty.” It stressed that allowing allegedly tainted officials to remain in office makes the administration complicit in shielding wrongdoing at the highest levels of government.

It said what a good government does when such allegations come up is to take open, transparent and visible measures to investigate and then act swiftly if the accusations are proven.

ThisDay

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of a Fidelity Bank account belonging to Mars Aviation Limited over money laundering allegations connected to Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), according to TheCable.

Musa Liman, the presiding judge, granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1299/2025, was filed on July 1 and moved by Geraldine Ofulue, the EFCC counsel.

Ofulue told the court that the account is under investigation in a case involving alleged criminal misappropriation and money laundering. She prayed the court to freeze the account pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Ruling on the motion, Liman held that the EFCC’s application had merit and accordingly granted the request. Although the order was made on September 22.

The EFCC had asked the court to empower its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, or any other authorised officer to direct the managing director of Fidelity Bank to freeze the account.

According to the motion, the account number 5250350283 (C03651082) is held by Mars Aviation Limited.

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In an affidavit supporting the motion, Abdulganiyu Olayide, an EFCC investigator attached to the commission’s special duties committee, said his team was assigned to probe the matter.

Olayide said the investigation followed intelligence alleging that NNPCL had made several payments to Mars Aviation for purported contracts that were phoney and granted in default of the provisions of the Procurement Act.

He added that preliminary findings revealed that huge sums of money were paid into the company’s Fidelity Bank account by NNPCL in multiple instalments.

The EFCC official said freezing the account was necessary to preserve the funds and prevent any transactions while the investigation continues.

“That I make this affidavit in good faith, believing its contents to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” Olayide said.

There are reports that Mars Aviation Limited is allegedly owned by Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, the founder and group managing director of AA&R. Bashir-Haske is married to the daughter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

In August, Haske was placed on EFCC’s wanted list over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

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TheCable

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately review the 2026 Hajj fares.

The directive comes after the naira’s continued appreciation against the dollar, a key factor in determining the cost of Hajj.

According to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the review is necessary to ensure that the benefits of the improved exchange rate are reflected in the fares.

The previous fares were N8.1 million for pilgrims from the Maiduguri zone, N8.2 million for other northern states, and N8.5 million for southern states.

NAHCON has been given two days to submit a new fare proposal. The Vice-President emphasized the need for close coordination between national and state officials to ensure uniformity in adopting the revised rate.

He also called for quick payment and remittance of funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure a smooth and timely operation.

Ibrahim Hadeija, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, said the discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for the 2026 Hajj, particularly on reducing fares for intending pilgrims.

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He noted that the government’s economic reforms have strengthened the naira and that the president expects the benefits to be passed on to prospective pilgrims.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has criticised the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, over his recent comments on the dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Refinery.

Speaking last Friday on Arise TV, Senator Oshiomhole faulted the industrial action embarked upon by PENGASSAN in protest against the Dangote Refinery, which led to a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities. He described the move as “hasty” and “unfair to other workers.”

Oshiomhole noted that while unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not worsen the country’s economic situation.

“I think that in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers. When you are pursuing a dispute, the tools you deploy must be such that they do not undermine other people’s jobs,” he said.

However, in a statement signed by Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG President and General Secretary respectively, the union expressed disappointment over Senator Oshiomhole’s remarks, describing them as a betrayal of labour principles and a distortion of established laws.

“We witness with utter disappointment a former labour leader now transformed into a vocal advocate for corporate oppression, actively campaigning against the very rights he once championed. His attempts to rationalise the victimisation of workers for exercising their fundamental rights of association and peaceful action are not only nauseating but represent a flagrant misrepresentation of Nigerian Labour Law and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions,” the statement read.

In the statement titled “Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s Undistinguished Anti-Worker Vitriol,” NUPENG accused Oshiomhole of betraying the cause of Nigerian workers by ignoring the sack of over 800 employees while faulting PENGASSAN’s strike method.

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“Adams Oshiomhole’s criticism of PENGASSAN’s strike is an act of profound historical revisionism and political amnesia.

Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, LFN 2004, legally recognises trade disputes, including industrial actions undertaken in sympathy with other workers.

PENGASSAN’s solidarity action with its members at Dangote Refinery is therefore a protected legal action.

The principle that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’ is the foundational ethic of trade unionism globally,” NUPENG stated.

The union further described Oshiomhole’s stance as hypocritical, noting that he once led similar strikes as NLC President.

“Shockingly, this was a man who served several times on the Governing Council of the ILO and in the Committee on Application of Standards that reviews violations of workers’ rights globally. It is unfortunate that Senator Oshiomhole, by his comments, has demonstrated monumental ignorance of trade unionism,” it added.

NUPENG declared that it would no longer participate in any labour-related event where Senator Oshiomhole is present, describing him as persona non grata among oil and gas workers.

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“The leadership of NUPENG hereby declares Senator Adams Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian oil and gas workers for his undistinguished denunciation of PENGASSAN’s strike against the unjustifiable sack of 800 engineers.

Henceforth, we will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole. The NLC, TUC, and all conscionable civil society organisations should kindly take notice,” the statement said.

The union concluded by describing Oshiomhole’s position as “a dangerous toxin designed to weaken the working class,” adding that his comments amount to a “monumental betrayal.”

“The undistinguished position of Adams Oshiomhole on the PENGASSAN strike qualifies him as the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian trade unionism. What a monumental betrayal of the cause of the working class! We advise Senator Oshiomhole to retire from commenting on labour matters, as he has irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers, especially those in the oil and gas sector,” NUPENG stated.

Leadership

The recent allegations of certificate forgery involving Geoffrey Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, have sparked significant debate.

Nnaji maintains that he graduated from the University of Nigeria (UNN) in Nsukka, Enugu State, stating that his name is included in the university’s convocation brochure for the 1985 graduating class.

In response to the accusations, Nnaji’s lawyer, Sebastian Hon, criticized an online newspaper for what he described as an attempt to tarnish his client’s reputation by disregarding existing court orders related to the matter.

Robert Ngwu, an aide of the minister, spoke for him at a news conference in Abuja. Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), carpeted the online publication at a Federal High Court(FHC) also in Abuja.

Nnaji had, in September, sought an order of mandamus from the court compelling UNN and its officials to release his academic records to him.

He also asked the court to order the Minister of Education, Morufu Alausa and the National University Commission (NUC) to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to release his transcript.

Besides, the Education minister and NUC, others listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025 are the UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya; the Registrar, a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam and the Senate of the university.

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On September 22, Judge H.J. Yilwa granted some of the minister’s prayers but did not issue any injunctive order against the defendants. She adjourned to October 6 (yesterday) for further hearing.

The matter was, however, stalled due to the inability of the lawyer to the UNN and its officers to file their responses.

At the news conference where his aide made available via WhatsApp, two pages of the university’s 1985 convocation brochure, Nnaji is listed as number five on one page. His picture is number 17 on the second page.

But Ngwu did not say why his boss did not go for his certificate 40 years after graduation.

He said the minister is a proud UNN alumnus who obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.

Describing the controversy as a case of political desperation disguised as academic inquiry, Ngwu said, apart from the 1985 convocation brochure, the university’s registry confirmed that Nnaji’s academic history was not in doubt.

According to him, the only valid and authentic communication issued by the university regarding the minister’s academic record is a letter dated December 21, 2023, signed by Mrs I.A.S. Onyeador on behalf of the Registrar, Dr Celine Nnebedum.

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According to him, the letter explicitly confirmed that ‘’Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.’’

“This remains the official position of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, properly stamped, duly issued, and still valid,” he emphasised.

Ngwu expressed shock that nearly two years after the university’s official confirmation, another letter emerged in May 2025, purportedly denying the existence of the minister’s records.

He questioned the timing and motive of the new claim, noting that it coincided with the emergence of two card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Acting Vice-Chancellor and later substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.

“The question every well-meaning Nigerian should ask is: what changed between December 2023 and May 2025 apart from the change in leadership at the University? Ngwu asked.

The minister’s aide explained that alleged attempts within the university to tamper with the academic file of his boss necessitated the suit at the FHC.

He said that on September 22, 2025, the court not only issued protective orders restraining UNN management from altering the minister’s records but mandated it to immediately release his academic transcript.

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“These are not speculative claims. They are certified orders of the Federal High Court, which should have settled the matter once and for all,” Ngwu added.

He lamented that instead of complying with the court’s directives, the Vice-Chancellor, who is a lawyer by training, allegedly resorted to cyber-bullying and politically-motivated media campaigns against the minister.

Ngwu alleged that the controversy was fuelled by a coordinated attempt to tarnish the image of a reputable public servant for political gain.

He blamed a governor, whose name he did not give, of being behind the saga

The governor, according to him, wants to remove his boss as the APC leader in the state to enhance his (governor ) second-term ambition.

His words: “It is no coincidence that the so-called exposés are being driven by partisan actors and amplified by certain media outlets like Premium Times.

“This is a deliberate campaign to weaponise institutions and discredit a serving minister committed to national innovation and development.

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“It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity-it is about political desperation, disguised as academic inquiry.

‘’The timing, the sources, the false documents, and the paid narratives all point to a coordinated campaign to drag a reputable public servant into the mud of partisan politics.

“UNN must uphold its proud motto of restoring the dignity of man. It must regain its integrity by distancing itself from political manipulation and reaffirming the authenticity of its own official record.

‘’This is not about one man’s record-it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour, and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics.

“The minister will not be distracted by falsehoods or propaganda. He will continue to serve with integrity, dedication and focus.”

Judge adjourns minister’s suit till Nov.10

During yesterday’s proceedings, Nnaji’s lawyer, Hon, told the court that all the parties in the suit had been served with the necessary court documents.

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