The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has officially arraigned Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, on a six-count charge involving forgery, money laundering, and the abuse of his public office. The allegations stem from claims that Nnaji utilized fraudulent credentials to secure his ministerial appointment.
The charges detail that Nnaji allegedly accepted over N29 million in salary and allowances while knowing these funds originated from illicit activities. Furthermore, the commission accuses him of intentionally presenting a falsified National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and a fake degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to the federal government. Legal proceedings suggest that these documents were submitted with the explicit intent to deceive government authorities during the ministerial screening process.
An investigation conducted by Premium Times exposed significant inconsistencies in Nnaji’s documentation. The university records indicated that Nnaji had not completed his graduation requirements by 1985, as he was still requesting to re-sit a course in 1986. Moreover, the NYSC certificate provided by the former minister contained a signature from an official who did not assume that office until eighteen months after the certificate was allegedly issued. Additional errors included a misspelling of his name and a timeline of service that contradicted standard procedures.
Following these revelations, both the UNN and the NYSC disowned the documents submitted to the Senate and other government offices. While Nnaji resigned his post in October 2025, public pressure led to his arrest on July 1, 2026, after he repeatedly ignored commission summons. During his appearance before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nnaji pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court granted him bail set at N20 million, subject to specific surety requirements. Civil society groups have since urged the judiciary to ensure an efficient and transparent trial to address the gravity of these accusations.