The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the arrest of a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji. The ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night.
Arrest at Abuja Airport
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Nnaji was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight. The ICPC, assisted by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), apprehended him and subsequently handed him over to the commission for further investigation.
In early June, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that the ICPC had launched a manhunt for Nnaji after he failed to honour invitations extended by the anti-graft agency. The invitation followed a two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year, which revealed that the then-minister forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. These documents were submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
Court Order and Appeal
In mid-June, a federal high court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest Nnaji for investigation into the certificate forgery scandal. Despite consistently denying the existence of the arrest order, Nnaji filed an appeal against the order on 18 June at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
According to the ICPC statement, Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations will continue. The commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.
Background of the Scandal
In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES began investigating Nnaji's academic records. He had claimed to have obtained a degree certificate from UNN, where he purportedly graduated in 1985. Disturbed by scrutiny, Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to block UNN and its vice-chancellor from releasing his academic records. However, before he could obtain an injunction, the UNN vice-chancellor responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request confirming that Nnaji had forged his degree certificate. The university registrar later corroborated this, stating that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but neither graduated nor was issued any certificate. NYSC authorities also disowned the discharge certificate in his possession.
Three days after the investigation was published, Nnaji resigned as minister. Many Nigerians called for his prosecution, arguing that resignation was inadequate. In March this year, an investigative panel set up by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed the forgery. Nnaji later moved from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as the governorship candidate of a PDP faction ahead of the 2027 election. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Nnaji was desperate to become governor to enjoy immunity from prosecution.
