ICPC Fixes Date To Arraign Tinubu’s Former Minister, Nnaji

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 bordering on 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 linked to his academic qualifications and National Youth Service Corps certificate.

According to the charge sheet, the ICPC accused Nnaji of unlawfully receiving N29.58m in salaries and allowances while serving as minister, alleging that the funds constituted 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.

In addition, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a false NYSC Certificate of National Service to the Federal Government during his appointment process in 2023.

The commission further alleged that he submitted a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, despite allegedly knowing that it was false.

The remaining counts accuse him of producing and using both the NYSC certificate and the university degree certificate as genuine documents, contrary to 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.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, reportedly informed investigators 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 (NYSC) also reportedly disowned the discharge certificate linked to the former minister.

Nnaji subsequently resigned from the Federal Executive Council after the allegations became public.

The former minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In a recent statement issued through his spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, Nnaji insisted that he had not been convicted of any offence and urged the public to distinguish between allegations and established facts.

He maintained that any criminal 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, insisting that he remained available to respond to any lawful process.

Nnaji had earlier instituted a civil action at the Federal High Court seeking to prevent the release of his academic records by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The matter was later adjourned after parties indicated an interest in exploring an out-of-court settlement.

Meanwhile, the ICPC obtained a warrant for his arrest and detention during the course of its investigation.

The former minister, 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 for the 2027 election.