The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called for stronger rules and punishment for public officials who use fake certificates.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is accused of using forged certificates from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) when he was appointed in 2023. An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES reported that the documents were not real.

At a court hearing in Abuja on Monday, Nnaji’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sebastian Hon, criticised the report during proceedings at the Federal High Court, saying it was unfair and prejudicial.

Reacting to the scandal, Peter Obi, in a statement on Monday, said certificate forgery is a serious crime that should not be ignored.

Obi accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to check and stop these kinds of fraud.

“Whenever I talk 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 me,” Obi wrote on his official X account.

“But how do you tell people that those whose integrity, character and behaviour are supposed to be exemplary and emulated in society have become the very source of the nation’s decay?

“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.”

Obi added “But in my country Nigeria, though the laws are same as in other countries, that forgery is punished by immediate disqualification, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) makes no effort to scrutinize certificates before the elections, over looks complaints of forgery and when you challenged after the elections, court will dismiss the serious criminal issues as “pre-election matters” without giving this criminal act appropriate punishment.”

Obi also compared Nigeria’s response to forgery with that of Indonesia, where he says the law is clear and enforced.

He said, “In one of my knowledge-seeking visits to Indonesia early this year, after interacting with several ministers responsible for Health, Villages, SMEs, Planning, and Education, as well as the Vice President and President Joko Widodo on development, I met with the Chairman of the General Elections Commission of Indonesia.

“I asked him about the educational qualifications required to participate in elections from local government to the state legislature, governorship, and up to the presidential level. He openly stated these qualifications to me.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Obi urged INEC to take early action by verifying all candidates’ academic records before elections.

He said this should 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 is happening now.

He proposed; “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.”

Obi warned that the failure to punish forgery is creating a system where dishonesty is rewarded, noting that “we must deal with certificate forgery holistically with the seriousness and level of criminality it deserves.

“Criminal offences should not be dismissed as a mere procedural matter. We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth.” (The Guardian)