The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court warrant to detain former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, for an initial 14 days over an alleged certificate forgery case.
A source at the commission told Premium Times that the warrant permits the ICPC to hold Nnaji for interrogation, with room for extension if required.
Nnaji was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after arriving from Enugu on a chartered flight, and was immediately handed over to the commission.
ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed the arrest, stating that operatives of the State Security Service assisted in apprehending the former minister, who was then taken to the commission’s Abuja headquarters for questioning. Odey added that the ICPC would pursue the matter diligently and in line with due process.
The commission said the arrest followed a Federal High Court order obtained after Nnaji failed to honour several invitations to appear before investigators.
Nnaji is being probed over claims that he forged a University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate as well as an NYSC discharge certificate — documents he allegedly presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his 2023 ministerial screening.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing. However, UNN reportedly confirmed that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he never graduated and was never issued a certificate. The NYSC has similarly disowned the discharge certificate attributed to him.
Nnaji stepped down as minister soon after the allegations surfaced. He had earlier run for Enugu State governor in 2023 under the APC before defecting to the PDP, where he emerged as the governorship candidate of a party faction ahead of the 2027 elections.
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