Immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, while preparing to board a chartered flight to Abuja on Wednesday morning.
According to Premium Times, Nnaji, the acclaimed PDP governorship candidate in Enugu State for the 2027 elections, was taken into custody and is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation over an alleged certificate forgery case, which led to his sudden resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in October 2025.
The arrest came weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest the former minister over allegations that he forged his academic certificates.
In a ruling delivered in mid-June, the court also granted the anti-corruption agency leave to declare Nnaji wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels, if necessary.
The ICPC had informed the court that its ex parte application became necessary after the former minister repeatedly failed to honour invitations issued to him for what it described as “investigative activities” relating to the certificate forgery allegations.
Recall that reports emerged in October 2025 alleging that Nnaji forged both his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) bachelor’s degree certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
The reports alleged that these documents were submitted to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during Nnaji’s ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The publication further alleged that the same certificates were presented to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Senate as part of the documentation required for his appointment.
Kano Times reports that Nnaji resigned from his position as minister on October 8, 2025, saying his resignation was intended to uphold due process rather than serve as an admission of guilt.
Following the court’s order, Nnaji denied the existence of the warrant, dismissing the newspaper’s report as a “media trial.”
However, court documents later showed that on June 18, the former minister filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging the Federal High Court’s order authorising his arrest.
Wednesday’s arrest marks the latest development in the high-profile certificate forgery case, with the ICPC expected to continue its investigation after taking custody of the former minister.
Neither Nnaji nor the ICPC had issued an official statement on the arrest as of the time of filing this report.
