Tuesday, September 22, 2026 -The Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday granted permission to the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji to travel abroad.
When his matter over academic qualification falsification
was called, counsel to Nnaji, Aji Kamale moved a motion praying the court to
release the international passport of the former minister to enable him travel
abroad for medical treatment.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a short ruling
ordered the release of the passport.
She thereafter fixed Oct. 26 matter for continuation of the
trial.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission, ICPC, on July 13, arraigned the former minister on a six-count
charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information and
corruption.
Nnaji pleaded not guilty to the charge after he was
arraigned before the court.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC
alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, Nnaji took possession of
N29.58 million paid into his Fidelity Bank account as salaries and allowances
while serving as minister.
The ICPC also alleged that he reasonably ought to have known
the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts, namely corruption and fraud.
The commission said the alleged offence contravened Section
18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In count two, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji used his office as
minister to confer a corrupt advantage on himself, contrary to Section 19 of
the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The commission further alleged that, with intent to mislead
the Federal Government, he knowingly presented a false National Youth Service
Corps, NYSC, certificate during his ministerial appointment process.
It said the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable
under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act,
2000.
The ICPC also alleged that, in August 2023, Nnaji knowingly
presented a false Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate purportedly
issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
According to the charge, the act also contravenes Section
17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The other counts relate to alleged certificate forgery and
the making and use of false documents.
Specifically, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly
presented a forged NYSC certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his
ministerial appointment.
The prosecution also accused him of making and using both
the NYSC certificate and the UNN degree certificate as genuine in spite of
allegedly knowing they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the
Penal Code.
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