NIGERIA’S Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet with immediate effect, citing health concerns.
His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated December 1 and accepted by the president, according to a State House statement by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga on Monday, December 1.
Tinubu thanked the former Jigawa State governor for his service and is expected to notify the Senate of a successor later this week.
“President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week,” the statement read.
Badaru’s departure was on the heels of the recently declared national security emergency and the insecurity that has continued to ravage the country.
“His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course,” the statement added.
His resignation also followed another exit of a cabinet member that drew public attention.
On October 4, The ICIR reported how a two-year-long investigation by Premium Times found that both Nnaji’s university certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate were forged.
According to the report, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned the Bachelor of Science certificate Nnaji claimed to have obtained from the institution, stating that there were no records showing he graduated in July 1985 as alleged.
The report quoted a response to a freedom of information request sent by the newspaper, which stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there was no record that he completed his studies or graduated in July 1985, as his certificate claims.
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a professor, UNN disowned the certificate paraded by the minister.
Further checks by the newspaper showed that although Nnaji was admitted to study biological sciences, he failed several courses before he was advised to withdraw.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M