Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of Premium Times Newspaper, has shared insights into how the publication exposed the alleged academic certificate forgery involving former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
During an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ aired Tuesday evening, Mojeed revealed that the probe was initiated two years ago after a whistleblower contacted the newspaper, highlighting inconsistencies in Nnaji’s educational credentials.
“We received an anonymous email from someone who noticed irregularities in the minister’s academic claims,” Mojeed recounted. “The whistleblower didn’t know the individual personally but urged us to conduct a thorough investigation, confident that it would reveal significant findings. We accepted the challenge and commenced our inquiry in 2023.”
Following this tip-off, the Premium Times team promptly mobilized reporters to both Abuja and Enugu to authenticate the allegations.
“Our first step was to reach out to the NYSC on September 23, 2023,” Mojeed stated. “We had no prior connection with the minister; our reputation is built on rigorous investigative journalism. When concerns are raised, we pursue them diligently. Sometimes our findings are incriminating, other times not. But our constitutional duty as journalists is to hold those in power accountable, which we have done in this case.”
Mojeed also responded to claims from the minister’s spokesperson, Robert Ngu, who alleged that Premium Times accepted a ₦100 million bribe from the Enugu State government to publish the story.
“Robert Ngu’s accusation that we took ₦100 million from the Enugu government is baseless,” Mojeed asserted. “He will have to substantiate that in court. For nearly 15 years, we have maintained our credibility and produced impactful journalism without ever being accused of such misconduct.”
It is important to recall that Nnaji resigned on Tuesday amid the controversy surrounding his academic qualifications from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate. He described his resignation as a principled act.
Despite stepping down, the former minister denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that his resignation was not an admission of guilt.
In a statement released Tuesday night, Nnaji explained that his decision was motivated by respect for due process and the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings concerning his academic records from UNN and his NYSC certificate.
“My resignation is a personal choice, not an acknowledgment of guilt, but a principled stance to uphold the sanctity of due process and protect the integrity of the judicial process currently underway,” he said. “Ultimately, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the righteous.”
While Nnaji insists he graduated from UNN in 1975, the university reportedly could not confirm his academic history.
He characterized the allegations as politically driven, asserting that the controversy is part of a broader effort to tarnish his reputation.
“In the past week, a coordinated and persistent campaign of falsehoods, politically motivated and malicious in nature, has targeted my character, integrity, and office across various media platforms,” Nnaji stated. “These baseless accusations and media distortions have caused personal anguish and distracted from the critical work of the Ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
Appointed Minister in August 2023, Nnaji expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country.
President Tinubu has accepted Nnaji’s resignation. According to a statement from the President’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, the President thanked the former minister for his service and wished him success in his future pursuits.
