Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji is set to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday on a six-count criminal charge including certificate forgery, false declaration and money laundering, following a two-year investigation by Premium Times and a subsequent ICPC prosecution
A former Nigerian minister is heading to court over allegations that the credentials he used to secure his cabinet appointment were fake.
Uche Nnaji, who served as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology under President Bola Tinubu, will be arraigned before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed, Premium Times reports.
The ICPC filed a six-count criminal charge following an investigation into allegations that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and his NYSC discharge certificate — documents he allegedly submitted during his ministerial confirmation process in 2023. Both the University of Nigeria and the NYSC had previously disowned the certificates in question, Premium Times reported following a two-year investigation.
Beyond the forgery allegations, Nnaji faces charges of presenting false information to the Federal Government and conferring corrupt advantage on himself while in office. He is further accused of receiving approximately ₦29.58 million in salaries and allowances as proceeds of an unlawful act, a charge linked to the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act.
Nnaji was arrested on July 1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after repeatedly failing to honour ICPC invitations during the investigation.
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