A group representing several civil society organizations gathered at the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja on Friday to denounce the recent detention of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji. The coalition characterized the arrest by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as a politically driven operation intended to derail Nnaji’s 2027 Enugu State gubernatorial ambitions.
Led by figures including Kennedy Iyere, the coalition claimed that the ongoing litigation regarding Nnaji’s educational certificates has been exploited by government officials to damage his career. Although the group alleged that the ICPC is participating in a orchestrated scheme, they did not provide documentation to support these claims during the press conference.
The coalition emphasized that because the certificate forgery matter is currently under judicial review, the ICPC’s public commentary is inappropriate and risks prejudicing the legal process. They argued that the commission has denied Nnaji his right to a fair hearing by preemptively branding him guilty before a court ruling.
Describing the continued detention as unlawful and provocative, the group warned the ICPC leadership that these actions threaten national political stability. They issued an ultimatum for Nnaji’s release by the end of the business day on Friday, July 10, 2026, stating that failure to comply would result in nationwide youth-led protests. Furthermore, the organizations announced their intention to pursue legal action against the ICPC for alleged professional misconduct.
