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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Why ex-minister Nnaji was arrested — ICPC

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, at Abuja airport.
  • Nnaji allegedly failed to honor multiple invitations for an investigation into certificate forgery allegations.
  • The ICPC obtained a court order for his arrest after he ignored served notices, and he is currently in custody.

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is in custody at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) headquarters in Abuja following his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The ICPC confirmed the arrest, stating Nnaji failed to honor several invitations related to an investigation into allegations of certificate forgery.

The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated May 15, 2026.

— ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor OdeyConfirming the former minister's arrest and detailing the communication attempts made by the ICPC.

The commission detailed that Nnaji ignored repeated invitations, including one served via letter on May 15, 2026, to his known addresses and email. His failure to appear for investigative interviews necessitated further legal action, leading to a Federal High Court order for his arrest on June 11, 2026.

The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address. Despite service through multiple channels, Mr Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.

— ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor OdeyExplaining the ICPC's efforts to summon the former minister and his subsequent failure to comply.

The investigation centers on allegations of forging academic credentials, specifically a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a false National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted during his 2023 ministerial screening. The ICPC, with assistance from the Department of State Services, apprehended Nnaji upon his arrival at the airport on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026). The order, issued on June 11, 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation.

— ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor OdeyDetailing the court order that authorized the arrest of the former minister.

The ICPC assured the public of a diligent pursuit of the matter in accordance with the law. Nnaji is currently detained at the commission's headquarters as the investigation continues.

The investigation centres on allegations of “forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN),” as well as “a false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.”

— ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor OdeyOutlining the specific allegations forming the basis of the investigation against the former minister.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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