- ICPC Fixes Date To Arraign Former Minister, Nnaji
- Charges include alleged certificate forgery, false declaration and money laundering.
- Nnaji denies wrongdoing and says the allegations will be challenged in court.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is scheduled to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday over allegations of certificate forgery, false declaration and money laundering.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is expected to arraign the former minister before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce on a six-count charge following the conclusion of its investigation.
The planned arraignment comes days after the anti-graft agency filed criminal charges against Nnaji over allegations relating to his academic qualifications and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
According to the charge sheet, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji unlawfully received ₦29.58 million in salaries and allowances while serving as minister, describing the funds as proceeds of unlawful acts.
The commission said the alleged offence contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency also accused the former minister of using his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
The ICPC further alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a false NYSC Certificate of National Service to the Federal Government during his appointment process in 2023.
According to the commission, he also submitted a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), despite allegedly knowing that it was not genuine.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the remaining counts accuse the former minister of producing and using both the NYSC certificate and the university degree certificate as authentic documents, contrary to the provisions of the Penal Code.
The prosecution followed investigations into Nnaji’s academic records after questions were raised about the authenticity of the qualifications he submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.
Investigators reportedly received confirmation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, that although Nnaji was admitted into the institution in 1981, he neither graduated nor was issued the degree certificate attributed to him.
The National Youth Service Corps also reportedly disowned the discharge certificate linked to the former minister.
Nnaji subsequently resigned from the Federal Executive Council after the allegations became public.
However, the former minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
In a recent statement issued through his spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, Nnaji maintained that he had not been convicted of any offence and urged the public to distinguish between allegations and established facts.
He insisted that the charges against him remained allegations until determined by a court of competent jurisdiction and said he would defend himself through the judicial process.
Nnaji also denied claims that he had evaded investigators, maintaining that he remained available to respond to any lawful process.
The former minister had earlier filed a civil suit at the Federal High Court seeking to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from releasing his academic records.
The matter was later adjourned after both parties indicated a willingness to explore an out-of-court settlement.
Meanwhile, the ICPC obtained a warrant for his arrest and detention during the course of its investigation.
Nnaji, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also emerged as the governorship candidate of the Wike-backed PDP faction in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
