Court orders arrest of ex-minister Uche Nnaji over alleged certificate forgery

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, following an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The order was granted on Thursday after the anti-graft agency filed an ex parte motion in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026. The development was first reported by Premium Times, while Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the ICPC, also confirmed the court’s decision.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Nnaji into the federal cabinet in August 2023. However, the former minister later stepped down amid allegations that he submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates during the screening and confirmation process for his ministerial appointment.

Court documents showed that the ICPC’s ex parte application was dated June 3 and filed on June 4. The motion was supported by an affidavit sworn to by David Nelson.

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Addressing the court, Akponimisingha said the commission sought the orders after Nnaji allegedly failed to honour several invitations extended to him in connection with investigations into the certificate forgery allegations.

The ICPC requested permission to publicly declare the former minister wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms and other communication channels, citing his failure to appear before investigators.

The commission also asked the court to issue a bench warrant authorising its operatives, other law enforcement agencies and private citizens to identify, apprehend and hand over Nnaji for investigation.

In addition, the anti-corruption agency urged the court to make any further orders it considered appropriate under the circumstances.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by the commission and ruled that the arrest warrant would remain in force until Nnaji is apprehended.

Nnaji recently secured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 election.