It called for transparency, fairness and institutional neutrality in the handling of the matter.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the rights advocacy group cautioned against what it described as premature conclusions suggesting that a Federal Government investigative panel had already confirmed allegations of certificate forgery against the former minister.
HURIWA said recent clarifications provided by Robert Ngwu, Special Adviser to Nnaji, underscored the need for caution in interpreting ongoing investigations linked to the dispute over the former minister’s academic records at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
According to the group, Ngwu explained that the investigative panel referenced in some media reports was not constituted to determine whether Nnaji forged a certificate from the university.
Rather, the panel was established following a petition submitted by the former minister to the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria) alleging misconduct by certain officials of the university.
HURIWA noted that the clarification was significant because it indicates that claims suggesting the panel has already established certificate forgery are inaccurate, especially as the panel’s official findings have not yet been released by the ministry.
The organisation further stated that the dispute over Nnaji’s academic records is currently before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, where the former minister is seeking a court order compelling UNN to release his academic transcript, which he reportedly requested since May 2025.
According to Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, proceedings at the February 26 sitting before Hauwa Yilwa (Justice) could not proceed due to procedural issues, including the absence of proof of service in the court file and the need for some respondents’ filings to be properly regularised.
He said counsel representing the university leadership sought an adjournment, which was not opposed by Nnaji’s legal team from the chambers of senior advocates Wole Olanipekun and Sebastine Hon, indicating that the matter remains under judicial consideration.
Beyond the court proceedings, HURIWA said the petition submitted by the former minister to the education ministry raised serious allegations, including claims of intimidation, unlawful access to confidential student records and possible tampering with academic documents by some university officials.
The petition also reportedly questioned the disclosure of personal academic information without authorisation, actions that could potentially conflict with provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and other public service regulations governing the handling of sensitive data.
Onwubiko also referenced claims that a document allegedly used to justify certain administrative actions within the university had been queried by the Public Complaints Commission, which reportedly indicated that the letter attributed to its office was fraudulent and that no complaint had been filed against the former minister.
While acknowledging that the allegations and counter-allegations would ultimately be determined by the court and relevant investigative bodies, the organisation said the wider political context surrounding the controversy could not be ignored.
He noted that Nnaji is regarded as one of the prominent grassroots leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State and was among the early pillars of the party’s structure in the state.
The group said the timing and intensity of the allegations had raised questions among political observers about whether the controversy could be linked to emerging political dynamics in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
It also noted that the Vice-Chancellor of UNN previously served as Chief of Staff to a former governor of Enugu State and is widely perceived to belong to the same political camp as the state governor, Peter Mbah.
Although the Vice-Chancellor has reportedly denied any involvement in wrongdoing, HURIWA said the circumstances had nonetheless created concerns about possible perceptions of conflict of interest.
“In matters involving sensitive academic records and political figures, the credibility of the investigative process must be protected at all costs. Where questions arise about possible conflicts of interest, the appropriate institutional response is transparency and recusal,” Onwubiko stated.
The rights organisation called on the leadership of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to ensure that investigations arising from Nnaji’s petition are conducted in a manner that is impartial and credible.
It urged any university official directly or indirectly connected to the dispute to recuse themselves from administrative or investigative processes relating to the matter in order to avoid perceptions of bias.
HURIWA also called on the university’s Senate to undertake an independent internal review of the allegations, particularly claims that the former minister’s academic records may have been accessed or altered without proper authorisation.
The organisation further urged the Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria) to ensure that the investigative panel hears from all relevant stakeholders, including individuals with knowledge of how the academic records in question had been historically handled.
According to Onwubiko, the integrity of Nigeria’s universities must be protected from any perception of political interference.
“HURIWA believes that both the integrity of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the reputation of individuals involved in the controversy can only be protected through a transparent process guided strictly by facts, evidence and the rule of law,” he said.
The organisation also urged the public and the media to avoid drawing premature conclusions while awaiting the official report of the investigative panel and the final determination of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on the matter.
