Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji Arrested at Airport Over Certificate Forgery Probe

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations of certificate forgery.

Nnaji was reportedly apprehended on Wednesday shortly after arriving in the Federal Capital Territory aboard a chartered flight from Enugu.

According to reports, the former minister is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning over allegations that he falsified academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials.

The arrest follows months of efforts by the anti-graft agency to secure his appearance after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning.

The controversy dates back to 2025, when the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the ICPC’s application to arrest and investigate Nnaji over allegations bordering on certificate forgery.

The court also authorised the commission to declare him wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms and other communication channels if he remained unavailable for investigation.

According to court documents filed by the ICPC at the time, the application became necessary after the former minister repeatedly failed to respond to invitations for what the agency described as investigative activities.

The allegations centre on claims that Nnaji submitted forged academic qualifications and NYSC documents during the ministerial screening process in 2023.

The development eventually culminated in his resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in 2025, amid mounting public scrutiny over the authenticity of his credentials.

Media investigations had earlier questioned the validity of the certificates presented by the former minister, further intensifying calls for a formal probe.

Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Nnaji challenged the court’s decision by filing an appeal against the order authorising his arrest.

However, reports indicate that his arrest on Wednesday was carried out in line with the subsisting investigation.

As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had yet to issue an official statement confirming the arrest, while Nnaji and his representatives had not publicly reacted to the latest development.

Nnaji, a businessman, philanthropist and politician from Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, served as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology before stepping down over the controversy.