Alleged Certificate Forgery: Court Grants Former Minister Uche Nnaji N20m Bail After ICPC Arraignment

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N20 million to the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, following his arraignment on a six-count charge. The charges, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), border on alleged certificate forgery, false information, and official corruption. Nnaji, 63, pleaded not guilty to all counts before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

According to the prosecution, Nnaji allegedly received over N29.5 million in salaries and allowances between August 2023 and October 2025 during his tenure as minister. The ICPC characterized these funds as proceeds of unlawful acts and accused him of using his public office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself. Additionally, the anti-graft agency alleged that Nnaji presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and a falsified University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry during his ministerial screening and documentation process.

While the prosecution expressed readiness to proceed with the trial and present three witnesses, it did not oppose the defendant’s bail application. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the former minister to bail, requiring a surety who must be a federal civil servant of Grade Level 15 or above with a verified residence of at least four years. The court also ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and other travel documents. The trial has been adjourned until September 21, 2026.

The arraignment follows a multi-month investigation by the ICPC, which had previously secured a remand order after Nnaji reportedly failed to honor multiple invitations. On the day of the hearing, members of a civil society organization, Global Gender Safety and Moral Development, staged a peaceful protest outside the court premises. Led by convener Shuaibu Abdulkadir, the group called for strict adherence to the rule of law and demanded accountability to protect the integrity of the nation’s public offices and educational institutions.