The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday arraigned former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false declaration and corruption.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 in salaries and allowances through his Fidelity Bank account, describing the funds as proceeds of unlawful acts contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused the former minister of abusing his office by receiving the same amount as salaries and allowances, thereby conferring a corrupt advantage on himself, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts relate to the alleged forgery and use of false documents.
According to the ICPC, Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his appointment as minister.
The commission also alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, despite allegedly knowing it was false.
Following his plea, defence counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), informed the court that he had filed an application seeking his client’s release on bail. In a ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted Nnaji bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like amount.
The court ordered that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
