Ex-Minister Nnaji's Forgery Case: Court Grants Travel Permission
A Federal High Court in Abuja has allowed former Minister Uche Nnaji to travel abroad for medical treatment, ordering the release of his international passport. Nnaji faces a six-count charge by the ICPC, including allegations of certificate forgery, false information, and corruption, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to continue on October 26, following his bail in the sum of N20 million.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted permission to Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, to travel abroad for medical treatment. This decision, made on Monday, also included an order for the release of his international passport to facilitate the trip.
Nnaji, 63, was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on July 13, facing a six-count charge. These charges border on alleged certificate forgery, false information, and corruption. During his appearance before the court, Nnaji pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji, while serving as minister between August 2023 and October 2025, unlawfully received N29,578,466.67 as salary and allowances. The commission described these funds as "proceeds of unlawful acts," in contravention of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Furthermore, in the second count, the anti-graft agency accused the former minister of leveraging his official position to confer a corrupt advantage upon himself by receiving the aforementioned sum, thereby violating the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts specifically address allegations of certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents. The ICPC contended that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, identified by number A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his ministerial appointment. Additionally, he was accused of submitting a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, fully aware of its falsity. The prosecution also asserted that Nnaji made and subsequently used both the NYSC certificate and the UNN degree certificate as genuine, despite allegedly knowing they were forged, actions contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
The motion seeking the release of Nnaji’s passport for medical treatment abroad was filed by his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and was moved on Monday. Justice Abdulmalik, after hearing the motion, granted the application and ordered the release of the passport. The case has been adjourned, with the continuation of the trial fixed for October 26. Following his arraignment, Nnaji’s counsel had also applied for bail. While the ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, stated readiness for trial with three witnesses, he did not oppose the bail application. Consequently, Justice Abdulmalik granted Nnaji bail in the sum of N20 million, requiring one surety in like sum. The surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years, and provide employment evidence, including appointment letter and salary slips for the preceding three months, with verification by the relevant government authority. As part of earlier bail conditions, Nnaji had been ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court.