(DDM) – Prominent legal analyst and public affairs commentator, Liborous Oshoma, has raised serious doubts over the authenticity of the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records of the recently resigned Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Nnaji’s resignation followed a series of investigative media reports alleging glaring inconsistencies in his university graduation timeline and NYSC documentation.
Speaking during an interview on AIT News, Oshoma described the situation as “a glaring case of official contradiction,” questioning how the former minister could have commenced his NYSC service months before the date he allegedly completed his degree.
According to Oshoma, available records show that Nnaji claimed to have graduated in July 1985, yet his NYSC mobilisation reportedly began in April 1985, a full three months before graduation.
“If you graduated in July, how come you started your NYSC in April?” Oshoma asked on live television.
“It is universities that submit the names of graduates to the NYSC for mobilisation. So how could he have been called up before officially completing his studies?”
The legal analyst cited a Premium Times investigation that uncovered official correspondence between Nnaji and his university, which reportedly revealed that as of June 1985, Nnaji had written to the institution requesting permission to retake a failed course.
The report further alleged that Nnaji sat for a resit examination in September 1985 but failed again, and the university subsequently informed him that he could reattempt the course in June 1986 after paying a re-examination fee of ₦4.
However, there has been no publicly available record indicating that he ever retook or passed the course, nor that he was subsequently awarded a valid degree.
“These details raise fundamental questions,” Oshoma stressed. “If he was still battling with a failed course in September 1985, how could he have graduated in July of the same year? And if he hadn’t graduated, on what basis did he qualify for NYSC mobilisation in April 1985?”
The revelations have sparked nationwide controversy, reigniting public debate on the integrity of government appointees and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s vetting processes.
Across social media platforms, Nigerians have demanded an independent probe into Nnaji’s academic records, calling for both the NYSC Directorate and the university involved to make available all relevant documents to verify or debunk the allegations.
Political analysts say the controversy exposes systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s credential verification system, where political nominees often escape rigorous background checks before assuming public office.
Oshoma insisted that the matter must not be swept under the carpet, noting that such inconsistencies, if substantiated, strike at the heart of public trust in governance.
“The truth is that we cannot continue to overlook these things,” he said. “If someone’s credentials cannot stand basic scrutiny, it undermines public confidence in the institutions of state.”
He urged the Presidency, NYSC authorities, and the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately investigate the timeline discrepancies, insisting that accountability must apply equally to all public officials.
The controversy surrounding Nnaji’s resignation marks another chapter in Nigeria’s long history of credential scandals involving top political figures, which have in the past led to dismissals, court cases, and disqualification from public service.
As public scrutiny mounts, many Nigerians are now calling for legislative reforms that would make the forgery or falsification of academic and service records an automatic disqualifier from holding any government position.
Oshoma concluded by reiterating that restoring public trust requires “transparent answers, not political silence,” warning that continued tolerance for false credentials “erodes the moral foundation of governance.”
He added, “It’s time for truth, accountability, and institutional integrity.
The Nigerian people deserve no less.”