The Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, is facing mounting pressure to step aside as allegations surface over the alleged manipulation of academic records belonging to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji.
The controversy, which intensified on Thursday, December 11, 2025, follows renewed public outcry after civil society organisations accused the UNN leadership of compromising institutional integrity.
According to the Joint Civil Society Front (JCSF), the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has set up a panel to investigate claims that the Vice Chancellor personally released and publicly discredited Nnaji’s academic records — bypassing the Registrar, who is the statutory custodian of all student records.
JCSF Coordinator, Vincent Ani, alleged that Prof. Ortuanya’s declaration that Nnaji did not graduate from the institution was politically motivated and has raised critical concerns about internal governance at UNN.
Ani noted that the Registrar had previously confirmed the authenticity of Nnaji’s degree certificate, making the Vice Chancellor’s latest position both “suspect and troubling.”
He stated that the situation signals “institutional malaise and bias,” stressing that the Vice Chancellor should be suspended to allow for an impartial investigation.
The group further emphasised that Chief Nnaji’s resignation as a minister should not be misconstrued as an admission of wrongdoing, but rather a demonstration of transparency and respect for due process.
JCSF warned that failure to address the alleged inconsistencies and missing academic records could inflict long-term damage on the reputation of the University of Nigeria.
They noted that the university’s shifting stance, from validating Nnaji’s certificate in 2023 to the alleged disappearance of his records in 2025, sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine public trust in the institution.
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