Former Minister Nnaji’s Arrest Ordered by Court Over Certificate Forgery

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Uche Nnaji, a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, over allegations of certificate forgery. The court granted the order on Thursday following an ex parte motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.

The ICPC informed the court that Nnaji had failed to honour several invitations extended to him for investigative activities regarding the forgery allegations. “The ex parte motion follows Nnaji’s refusal to honour invitations extended to him by the commission for investigation over certificate forgery allegations,” ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court.

The court granted all the orders sought by the anti-graft agency, including permission to declare the former minister wanted in any national newspaper or on social media platforms. The court also directed operatives of the ICPC, other enforcement agents, and private citizens to identify and arrest Nnaji and hand him over to the commission for investigation. The court further ruled that the arrest warrant would remain in force until Nnaji is arrested.

A copy of the arrest warrant obtained by Premium Times showed that Nnaji is being investigated for alleged forgery, abuse of office, and conferment of unfair advantage while serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The ICPC is expected to arraign the former minister upon his arrest over the alleged offences.

The development follows a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps certificate. The certificates were reportedly submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

UNN authorities had earlier confirmed to Premium Times that although Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981, he neither graduated nor was issued any certificate. The NYSC authorities also disowned the discharge certificate in the former minister’s possession. Nnaji resigned from his ministerial position three days after the investigative report was published.

Nnaji recently emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State for the 2027 elections. Sources had earlier alleged that his refusal to honour ICPC invitations might be linked to his political ambitions, with hopes of benefiting from immunity from criminal prosecution if elected governor.