The National Youth Service Corps has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the certificate presented by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was not issued by the organisation, citing four discrepancies in the document.
An Assistant Director in the NYSC Department of Certification, Yusuf Jumare, stated this on Tuesday while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former minister over alleged certificate forgery and money laundering.
Jumare, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, said his department uncovered the irregularities while investigating the certificate following a request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
While being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Jimoh Abdulmumuni (SAN), the witness explained that the certificate number contained the prefix 'A', which was not introduced by the NYSC until 1990, despite the document bearing 1985 as its year of issuance.
He also identified an inconsistency in the call-up number, saying the document carried four digits, '0137', instead of the five-digit format used by the corps in 1985.
Jumare further questioned the 13-month service period indicated on the certificate, explaining that the mandatory national service lasted 12 months.
The fourth discrepancy, he said, was the designation of the official who purportedly signed the document. According to him, the head of the NYSC was addressed as a 'Director' in 1985, whereas the certificate bore the title 'National General'.
The prosecution subsequently presented correspondence between the ICPC and the NYSC concerning the disputed document. The court admitted the documents in evidence, while the defence reserved its objection, arguing that it had not received copies.
The prosecution counsel promised to serve the documents on the defence, explaining that he had only recently taken over the case.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Jumare insisted that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC.
He explained that his department keeps records of certificates issued by the corps and that such documents are presented to corps members after completing their service year.
The witness also told the court that universities forward the names of eligible graduates to the NYSC for mobilisation, while call-up letters are sent to the institutions for collection by prospective corps members.
However, he admitted that he did not establish whether Nnaji had ever been issued an NYSC certificate.
The latest testimony follows an earlier appearance by an ICPC investigator, SP Yakubu Ibrahim, who told the court that investigations showed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC did not recognise the certificates attributed to the former minister.
Ibrahim had said UNN informed the commission that Nnaji did not meet the academic requirements for the award of a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry. He also testified that the university denied issuing the degree certificate.
The investigator further disclosed that Nnaji received about N29.5m in salaries and allowances during his tenure as minister before resigning.
The ICPC alleged that the former minister presented forged academic and NYSC certificates to secure his appointment in 2023 and subsequently received public funds through the position.
Nnaji, who resigned from President Bola Tinubu's cabinet following the controversy over his academic qualifications, is facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, money laundering and abuse of office. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 30 for the continuation of Jumare's cross-examination and January 29, 2027, for further proceedings.
