Alleged certificate forgery: Ex-Minister Nnaji pleads not guilty, gets N20m bail

A former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was formally arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 13, 2026, over a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false documentation, and corruption.

Appearing before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the 63-year-old former cabinet member pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Following his plea, the court admitted the ex-minister to bail in the sum of ₦20 million.

The anti-graft agency’s prosecution stems from a months-long investigation into Nnaji's academic and national service credentials. According to the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC alleges that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disowned the credentials Nnaji submitted.

The six counts filed against the former minister detail several specific violations:

*University Degree Forgery:* Knowingly presenting a false UNN degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry (Certificate No. 004501).
*NYSC Discharge Certificate Forgery:* Presenting a forged NYSC discharge certificate (No. A231309) during his ministerial screening and documentation process with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in August 2023.
*Unlawful Enrichment:* Collecting ₦29,578,466.67 in official salaries and emoluments between August 2023 and October 2025 under false pretenses. The prosecution characterizes these earnings as proceeds of an unlawful act.

[2023: Screening & Appointment] ➔ [Oct 2025: Scandal Breaks; Nnaji Resigns] ➔ [July 1, 2026: Arrested via Bench Warrant] ➔ [July 13, 2026: Arraignment & N20m Bail]

Following the "not guilty" plea, Nnaji’s lead defense counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), moved an application seeking bail for his client. The ICPC prosecution team did not oppose the application, opting instead to inform the court that they were ready to proceed with the trial and had already lined up three operational witnesses.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted the ₦20 million bail but anchored it to stringent terms to prevent any flight risk:

1. *Surety Requirement:* The defense must provide one surety in the like sum of ₦20 million. The surety must be a federal civil servant residing in Abuja, holding a rank not below Grade Level 15.
2. *Employment Verification:* The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide a formal letter of employment, submit salary slips spanning the last three months, and prove a fixed residence held for at least four years.
3. *Travel Restrictions:* Nnaji was ordered to immediately surrender his international and official passports to the court registry and is barred from traveling outside Nigeria without explicit judicial clearance.

Nnaji served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet from August 16, 2023, until his abrupt resignation on October 6, 2025, which followed public exposure of the certificate discrepancies. At the time of his exit, Nnaji maintained that his resignation was a personal choice to protect the integrity of the administration and the state, firmly denying any admission of guilt.

His appearance in court follows his high-profile arrest by security operatives on July 1, 2026, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The ICPC had executed a bench warrant after Nnaji reportedly failed to honor multiple official invitations to clarify the certificate audit.

Justice Abdulmalik has ordered that Nnaji be remanded in custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 21, 2026, for the definitive commencement of the trial.