Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji Pleads Not Guilty to Certificate Forgery Charges, Gets ₦20m Bail

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of alleged certificate forgery filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, subsequently granted the former minister bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum.

According to the ICPC, Nnaji, who served as Minister of Science and Technology in President Bola Tinubu’s administration from August 16, 2023, until his resignation on October 6, 2025, allegedly forged academic credentials, including a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The anti-corruption agency also accused him of presenting an alleged forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

When the charges were read in court, the former minister denied all the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty.

Following an application by his lead counsel, Chief James Onoja (SAN), Justice Abdulmalik admitted the defendant to bail.

As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered that the surety must be a civil servant residing in Abuja and not below Grade Level 15 in the federal or state civil service.

The court further directed that the surety must depose to an affidavit of means.

Justice Abdulmalik also ordered Nnaji to surrender his international passport to the court and ruled that he must not travel outside Nigeria without prior approval of the court.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 21 for the commencement of trial.

Nnaji’s arraignment follows his arrest by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, shortly after he returned to the Federal Capital Territory.

At the time, the ICPC confirmed that the arrest was carried out as part of its ongoing investigation into allegations relating to the authenticity of the former minister’s academic and service credentials.