The immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested by security operatives over allegations of certificate forgery and handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation. The arrest follows an earlier court order authorising his arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested over allegations of certificate forgery. Airport and security sources confirmed that he was taken into custody on Wednesday after arriving on a domestic flight and was subsequently handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.
According to authoritative sources, Nnaji was arrested shortly after arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Enugu aboard a chartered flight.
The arrest comes weeks after a Federal High Court granted the ICPC a warrant to arrest the former minister following allegations that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations issued by the anti-graft agency during its investigation into claims that he forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
The certificate forgery allegations stem from an investigation into credentials Nnaji submitted during his ministerial confirmation process. The ICPC has been investigating claims involving alleged forgery, abuse of office and related offences.
Before his arrest, Nnaji denied wrongdoing and challenged reports that a court had ordered his arrest. He subsequently appealed the court’s ruling while maintaining that he had not deliberately evaded investigators.
Security sources said the former minister would be interrogated by the ICPC as part of the ongoing investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor Nnaji’s legal team had released a fresh official statement following Wednesday’s arrest.
The arrest marks a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched public office investigations. Attention is now expected to shift to the ICPC’s next steps, including whether the former minister will be formally charged after interrogation.