By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information, and corruption brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Nnaji took his plea following his arraignment before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 13.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received N29,578,466.67 through his Fidelity Bank account as salary and allowances, which the commission described as “proceeds of unlawful acts, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused the former minister of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same sum as salary and allowances, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts bordered on alleged certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents.
The ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his ministerial appointment.
The commission further alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.
The prosecution also accused him of making and using both the NYSC certificate and the UNN degree certificate as genuine despite allegedly knowing they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
Shortly after the charges were read and the defendant entered his plea, his counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a motion seeking his client’s bail.
Counsel for the ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the prosecution was prepared to proceed with the trial and had three witnesses lined up to testify.
He, however, did not object to the bail application.
In a ruling, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the former minister to bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety in like sum.
The judge held that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, who must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
The court further directed that the surety should produce evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the last three months.
It also ordered that the appropriate government authority be notified to verify the surety’s employment status.
Justice Abdulmalik also ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and every other travel document in his possession with the court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until September 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The charges followed months of investigation by PremiumTimes into allegations that the former minister forged academic certificates and made false declarations in connection with documents allegedly submitted during his nomination and screening for ministerial appointment, culminating in his resignation in October 2025.
On July 1, Nnaji was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and subsequently handed over to the ICPC.
Following the arrest, Okor Odey, ICPC’s spokesperson, said the commission sent invitation letters to Nnaji through multiple channels, including his residential addresses in Abuja and Enugu.
The ICPC had earlier secured a remand order against Nnaji, after informing the court that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations extended to him in the course of its investigation. He subsequently challenged the order authorising his arrest.
