Former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, has called for the prosecution of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over the alleged certificate forgery scandal that led to his recent resignation.

Akande made the call on Thursday while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, where he reacted to Nnaji’s resignation following reports that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) had denied issuing the certificate he claimed to possess.

“There is a good feeling that the minister resigned quite quickly after Premium Times published the story and made the whole thing known. It’s good that the minister resigned,” Akande said.

He, however, stressed that the resignation was not enough, insisting that criminal prosecution was necessary “even in the interest of Nnaji himself.”

According to Akande, “There has to be a criminal prosecution because the University of Nigeria, Nsukka said it did not issue him a certificate but he is insisting that the school did. So I don’t know whether it’s a civil case that can solve the matter. I think there has to be a pursuit of justice ultimately.”

Recall that Nnaji resigned earlier this week, stating that his decision was not an admission of guilt but a mark of respect for due process.

His resignation came after an investigative report alleged that his academic credentials were fraudulent, a claim the former minister has since denied.