Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of alleged certificate forgery brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Nnaji appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, where the anti-graft agency accused him of forging academic credentials, including a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The ICPC also alleged that the former minister presented a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.
After the charges were read before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, Nnaji denied all allegations.
Following a bail application by his counsel, Chief James Onoja (SAN), the court granted the former minister bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in the same amount.
The judge ruled that the surety must be a Grade Level 15 or above civil servant residing in Abuja and must provide an affidavit of means.
The court also directed Nnaji to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval of the court.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 21 for the commencement of trial.
Nnaji, who served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet from August 2023 until his resignation in October 2025, was arrested by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1 upon his return to the Federal Capital Territory.
The ICPC had confirmed that the arrest was connected to its ongoing investigation into the alleged certificate forgery.
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