Forgery Trial: Inside the Report that Landed Ex-minister Nnaji in the Dock

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji has been arraigned on six charges, including forgery, money laundering, and abuse of office. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) alleges Nnaji received N29.58 million in salary and allowances while in office, which he should have known was proceeds of corruption and fraud.

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reasonably ought to have known

The ICPC's case includes accusations that Nnaji used his ministerial position to confer corrupt advantages upon himself. Furthermore, the commission alleges he knowingly presented a false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, and a purported UNN degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, numbered 004501, to the government with the intent to mislead.

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confer corrupt advantage

These allegations stem from Nnaji's ministerial screening on August 1, 2023. At that time, he presented a 10-page curriculum vitae detailing his credentials. During the screening, Nnaji stated he graduated with a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in July 1985 and completed his mandatory NYSC scheme in Jos in 1986. The screening exercise, which lasted 21 minutes, concluded with Senate President Godswill Akpabio asking him to "take a bow."

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with intent to mislead