Uche Nnaji, the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight. Airport sources confirmed the arrest, stating that Nnaji would be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
Background of the Certificate Forgery Scandal
The ICPC had been pursuing Nnaji since his resignation from office last year, following investigations that revealed he had forged his academic certificates. In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest Nnaji for investigation into the certificate forgery scandal. The court also granted the commission permission to declare him wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms, and other media outlets if necessary.
ICPC's Pursuit and Court Order
The ICPC informed the court that its ex parte application was necessitated by Nnaji's repeated failure to honour invitations for investigative activities related to the forgery allegations. The commission's interest in Nnaji was sparked by a two-year investigation by Premium Times, published in October last year, which uncovered that Nnaji had forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
Forged Documents Submitted to Authorities
According to the Premium Times investigation, Nnaji submitted the forged documents to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. The forged bachelor's degree and NYSC certificate were also presented to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate. Nnaji later admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate, validating the newspaper's findings.
Nnaji's Legal Response
Nnaji initially denied the existence of the court order against him, describing the Premium Times report as a 'media trial.' However, on 18 June, he filed an appeal against the arrest order at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, according to a notice of appeal exclusively obtained by Premium Times. The arrest at Abuja airport marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings.
