Activist and public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has weighed in on the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, demanding that he return every salary and allowance he received while in office.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the 7th of October, 2025, labelled Nnaji a “disgraced minister,” insisting that the former official collected public funds “through fraud” and must refund them.
He said Nnaji’s exit should serve as a lesson to others allegedly holding government positions with forged credentials.
“Others yet to resign; forgers occupying various government seats should prepare, because their days are counted. Like Nnaji never expected his exit so soon, they should expect theirs very soon, either willingly or unwillingly,” he said.
Nnaji resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet on Tuesday, the 7th of October, after findings showed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he claimed to have obtained.
UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, confirmed that although Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, he never completed his studies and was not awarded a degree.
Investigations further revealed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could not verify the certificate of national service presented by Nnaji.
The Presidency, in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed that Nnaji had stepped down from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to the statement, Nnaji submitted his resignation in a letter to President Bola Tinubu, expressing appreciation for the chance to serve.
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“He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria,” the statement read.
The Presidency also maintained that Nnaji had been a victim of blackmail and political persecution.
In his own statement, Nnaji said his resignation was a personal decision made to uphold due process and ensure fairness.
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court,” he said.
He expressed optimism about the outcome of the ongoing case, saying, “In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just.”