Senator Orji Kalu Defends Minister Uche Nnaji Over Certificate Forgery Scandal, Says ‘He’s Not The First In The World’
Senator Orji Kalu Defends Minister Uche Nnaji Over Certificate Forgery Scandal, Says ‘He’s Not The First In The World’
According to Kalu, Nnaji is not the first person to face such controversy, adding that even in the United States Congress, there are individuals whose university degrees have been disputed.
According to Kalu, Nnaji is not the first person to face such controversy, adding that even in the United States Congress, there are individuals whose university degrees have been disputed.
Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has defended the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over the certificate forgery scandal that led to his resignation.
According to Kalu, Nnaji is not the first person to face such controversy, adding that even in the United States Congress, there are individuals whose university degrees have been disputed.
Kalu made the comments during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Wednesday, where he dismissed concerns over Nnaji’s resignation, insisting that the Senate did its duty in screening him.
Tinubu’s Minister Uche Nnaji Admits University Of Nigeria Never Issued Him Degree Certificate Amid Forgery Scandal –Report
“Well, we are not supposed to be looking at certificates. Our duty is to screen the candidate, not the certificate,” Kalu said.
“And the Senate did a very good job by screening him. And I congratulate him for resigning because if you have anything that is in conflict with what you do, you quietly resign, and it’s a humble thing to do.”
“So I’m not even thinking it’s an issue for discussion,” he added.
When asked about the impact on the South-East’s representation in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, Kalu said Tinubu will find a replacement for Nnaji.
“When one door closes, another window opens. It’s just that I pity him. He’s a very good friend of mine and unfortunately, it happened,” he said.
He also reacted to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism that the scandal brings disrepute and dishonour to the cabinet.
“He is not the first in the world. Even in the United States Congress, there are people whose university degrees were in dispute. I don’t want to discuss what any other person said,” Kalu stated.
When asked if his own certificates were in dispute, Kalu replied, “No.”
“I mean, I’m not saying it’s normal but I’m just saying that is not something the country should be facing now. What you should be sweating about is the economic problem where we are a people that is trying to build a reputation, trying to help the world think and know that we are good people,” he added.
“And so when you have what the man has done, which is honorable, it’s not supposed to be an issue for discussion. Again, the man found out that whatever he has done is wrong or whatever he did is not right,” Kalu said.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had earlier reported that The PREMIUM TIMES uncovered discrepancies in the minister’s academic and NYSC credentials. The investigation revealed that the degree certificate allegedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his NYSC certificate were questionable.
On Wednesday, SaharaReporters also reported that Atiku faulted the development, saying the scandal “brings disrepute and dishonour to this cabinet,” questioning how “a minister whose university degree certificate and NYSC is in contention” could have been nominated.
Kalu, former Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007 and current Senator, was convicted in December 2019 for allegedly diverting N7.1 billion from the Abia State treasury.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos, alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., and former finance director Jones Udeogu.
In May 2020, the Supreme Court nullified the conviction, ruling that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, had been elevated to the Court of Appeal and thus lacked jurisdiction to deliver the judgment.
The case was set back for retrial, but Kalu challenged the move, arguing it would amount to double jeopardy since he had already been tried and convicted.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja later granted the Federal Government permission to appeal the 2021 ruling that barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from retrying Kalu.
