ICPC Takes Custody of Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji After Abuja Airport Arrest

Uche Nnaji, who recently served as Nigeria's Minister of Science and Technology, was apprehended this morning, July 1st, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Reports from Premiumtimes indicate that Mr. Nnaji's arrest occurred immediately after he disembarked from a chartered flight. He is slated to be transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for thorough questioning regarding allegations of certificate forgery.

The ICPC has reportedly been investigating the former minister since his departure from office last year. This followed inquiries that allegedly uncovered falsified academic credentials. According to the ICPC, their ex parte application to the court was prompted by Mr. Nnaji's consistent refusal to respond to multiple invitations for 'investigative activities' concerning the forgery claims.

It is alleged that Mr. Nnaji submitted forged Bachelor's degree certificates from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), alongside falsified National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. These documents were reportedly presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation process in 2023. Furthermore, the same allegedly forged credentials were also submitted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had, on June 13, issued an order for the ICPC to arrest Mr. Nnaji to facilitate investigations into the certificate forgery scandal. Beyond the immediate arrest directive, the court also granted the commission permission to declare him a wanted person through various national media outlets, including newspapers and social media platforms.