Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has accused sections of the media of fueling what his legal team describes as a “trial by headlines” over the controversy surrounding his academic records.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nnaji maintained that the legal issues remain before the courts and warned against presenting allegations as though they had already been judicially established.
According to his legal team, public discourse has increasingly blurred the distinction between civil litigation, criminal investigations and court procedures, creating an impression that legal conclusions have already been reached when the substantive issues are yet to be determined by any court.
The former minister insisted that he is not seeking to avoid judicial scrutiny, stating that he is prepared to appear before any court whenever lawfully required and to defend himself through the legal process.
His lawyers also argued that an arrest, an investigation or even the filing of criminal charges cannot legally be equated with guilt, emphasizing that only a court can determine criminal responsibility after a full trial in which both prosecution and defence are heard.
The statement further noted that the principal dispute over Nnaji’s academic records originated from a civil action he personally instituted before the Federal High Court to obtain judicial clarification and secure the release of his official university transcript. That matter, according to the legal team, remains pending before the court.
While acknowledging reports of separate actions by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the lawyers said those proceedings should equally be allowed to run their lawful course without external pressure or media sensationalism.
Nnaji urged Nigerians to distinguish between allegations and established facts, insisting that constitutional guarantees such as the presumption of innocence exist to protect every citizen regardless of political affiliation or public office.
“The credibility of the justice system depends on evidence tested in open court—not on competing narratives outside the courtroom,” the statement said.
He expressed confidence that the pending proceedings would ultimately provide an opportunity for all relevant issues to be resolved through due process rather than public speculation.
