The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied issuing a discharge certificate linked to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that the document was fake.
An assistant director in the NYSC Department of Certification, Yusuf Abubakar Jumare, gave the evidence while testifying as the second prosecution witness in Nnaji’s trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting the former minister over alleged certificate forgery and money laundering in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026.
Nnaji, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Enugu State governorship election, appeared through a legal team led by Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN).
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Jimoh Abdulmumuni (SAN), Jumare said his department began investigating the certificate after receiving a request from the ICPC. He identified four features that showed the document was not issued by the NYSC.
First, the certificate number carries the prefix “A”, which the corps only began using in 1990, although the document was purportedly issued in 1985.
Second, its call-up number contains four digits, “0137”, instead of the five digits used in 1985.
Third, the certificate records a service period of 13 months rather than 12 calendar months.
Finally, it was signed by a “National General” instead of the NYSC chief executive, whose official title was “Director” at the time.
The prosecution also presented correspondence between the ICPC and the NYSC concerning the disputed certificate. The court admitted the documents as exhibits.
The defence objected to their admissibility, saying it had not received copies. The prosecution counsel explained that he had only recently taken over the case and promised to provide the documents.
During cross-examination by Bode Olanikpekun (SAN), Jumare maintained that the NYSC did not issue the certificate. He said his department keeps all NYSC certificates and explained that discharge certificates are given to corps members only after completing their service year.
He also told the court that the NYSC sends call-up letters to universities for collection by graduates. Universities are responsible for forwarding graduates’ names to the corps for mobilisation.
However, Jumare admitted that he had not checked whether Nnaji had ever received an NYSC certificate.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 30 for the continuation of Jumare’s cross-examination and January 29 for further proceedings.
