ICPC Files Six Criminal Charges Against Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji Over Alleged Certificate Forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a six-count criminal charge against former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, marking a major escalation in the certificate forgery case that has trailed the former cabinet member for months.
The charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026, with the Federal Government listed as the complainant and Nnaji as the sole defendant. The criminal charge filed by the ICPC follows a lengthy investigation into allegations that the former minister submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates during his ministerial screening process.
The filing comes days after Nnaji's arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his arrival from Enugu. The arrest was carried out following an earlier Federal High Court order authorising his arrest, obtained by the ICPC after the former minister allegedly failed to honour several invitations from investigators.
Among the allegations contained in the charge sheet is that Nnaji unlawfully received ₦29.58 million in salaries and allowances while serving as minister despite allegedly securing the office through forged credentials.
Prosecutors also accuse him of using forged University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates as genuine during his appointment process, offences said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, and the Penal Code.
The prosecution stems from a two-year investigation that alleged Nnaji forged both his UNN degree certificate and NYSC discharge certificate submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. The allegations later prompted an ICPC investigation and the former minister's resignation from office.
The ICPC has confirmed that Nnaji was arrested in line with a court order issued in June to facilitate investigations into the forgery allegations after he allegedly ignored repeated invitations from the anti-corruption agency. Details of the commission's position were outlined in the official ICPC statement on the arrest.
The former minister is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the coming days. Under Nigerian law, the filing of criminal charges does not amount to a conviction, and Nnaji remains presumed innocent unless and until the allegations are proven in court.