An official of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the agency did not issue a discharge certificate attributed to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji. Yusuf Abubakar Jumare, an assistant director in the NYSC’s Department of Certification, gave the testimony on Nov. 3 as the second prosecution witness in Nnaji’s case.
Jumare cited four discrepancies: an “A” prefix on a certificate number, which he said the NYSC did not begin using until 1990; a four-digit call-up number, “0137,” although 1985 call-up numbers had five digits; a service period of 13 months instead of 12 calendar months; and the absence of a signature from the Director-General serving at the time.
During cross-examination, Jumare maintained that the NYSC had not issued the document, but acknowledged that he had not checked whether the agency had ever issued Nnaji a certificate. The prosecution tendered correspondence between the ICPC and NYSC as exhibits; Nnaji’s defence said it had not received the documents and reserved its objection.
The ICPC’s six-count case alleges that Nnaji presented an NYSC certificate during his ministerial appointment process in 2023, as well as a purported university degree certificate. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court set Nov. 30 for continued cross-examination of Jumare and Jan. 29, 2027, for further proceedings.
