Act on corrupt ministers now, HURIWA tells Tinubu

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded that President Bola Tinubu urgently sanitize his cabinet by sacking and suspending ministers entangled in alleged corruption and forgery scandals.

The rights group warned that the President’s silence in the face of mounting allegations and presumed evidence of alleged misconduct portrays him as indifferent to accountability, transparency, and the fight against corruption.

In a statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA described Tinubu’s refusal to act despite weighty allegations against members of his cabinet as “disrespectful to Nigerians who are the rightful custodians of national sovereignty.”

The statement signed by national coordinator of the group, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Sunday, stressed that allowing allegedly tainted officials to remain in office makes the administration complicit in shielding wrongdoing at the highest levels of government.

It said what a good government does when such allegations come up is to take open, transparent and visible measures to investigate and then act swiftly if the accusations are proven.

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On the case of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, HURIWA said the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has reportedly confirmed that the certificate he parades is not authentic and that he never graduated from the institution.

Similarly, the group said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has allegedly stated that the national service certificate tendered by the minister cannot be authenticated, adding that the  revelations leave no room for hesitation.

“This allegation as reported by a prominent online newspaper in an exclusive copy from the nation’s foremost academic institution and the NYSC is disconcerting. A minister sitting in the federal cabinet on the strength of allegedly forged documents makes a mockery of our democracy, diminishes public confidence in government, and tarnishes Nigeria’s image internationally. President Tinubu must show leadership by sacking Nnaji without delay if the report by Prelium Times is confirmed as true,” HURIWA declared.

The association also demanded the suspension of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following damning investigative reports alleging that he secretly acquired and transferred multimillion-dollar properties in Florida, United States, to his children through illicit cash transactions.

While acknowledging that the matter remains at the allegation stage, HURIWA insisted that the weight of evidence warrants immediate suspension pending a thorough investigation.

“Suspension is a temporary measure to preserve the sanctity of public office. It does not amount to guilt, but it signals that this government will not condone impropriety or shield any official under investigation. Anything less would mean complicity,” the group stated, urging Tinubu to liaise with U.S. authorities to establish the facts.

HURIWA further warned that Nigerians are growing disillusioned with the government’s handling of corruption scandals, stressing that the President’s silence fuels distrust and erodes confidence in governance. It reminded Tinubu that his duty is to protect the interests of the people, not to shield cronies, adding that “accountability is the foundation of governance.”

The association cautioned that failure to act will embolden corrupt practices and weaken Nigeria’s global standing. It urged Tinubu to respect the intelligence and patience of Nigerians by cleaning up his cabinet without delay, warning that “anything short of decisive action makes the administration complicit in enabling corruption.”