Forgery Trial Begins for Former Minister Uche Nnaji as Court Sets N20m Bail

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of certificate forgery and related offences.

He pleaded not guilty to all six counts and was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

Nnaji is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The charges relate to the alleged forgery of a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and an NYSC discharge certificate submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The ICPC also accused him of receiving about N29.5 million in salaries and emoluments under false pretenses, and of money laundering.

Both UNN and the NYSC have reportedly disowned the certificates in question, according to court documents.

Nnaji was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

After his plea, the prosecution said it was ready to commence trial immediately and had three witnesses present in court.

His counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, asked for more time to prepare and drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed on July 9. The prosecution did not oppose bail.

In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted bail to the former minister in the sum of N20 million. The conditions include one surety who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the Federal Civil Service and must reside in Abuja. The judge also ordered Nnaji to deposit both his official and personal passports.

Nnaji was arrested on June 30, 2026, by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his arrival from Enugu.

The arrest followed a Federal High Court order issued on June 11, 2026, after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations for investigative interviews.

The case comes months after investigations into the authenticity of his academic and service documents.

Nnaji resigned from his ministerial position on October 7, 2025. At the time, he described the decision as “a principled step to respect the sanctity of due process” amid the ongoing judicial process. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and previously described parts of the case as politically motivated.

The former minister is currently the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State.