Former Minister Uche Nnaji Faces Criminal Charges Over Forged Certificates

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, with six criminal counts.

The ICPC filed the charges in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. This information comes from a charge sheet that PREMIUM TIMES obtained. The commission's lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, filed the charges on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which is the complainant. Mr Nnaji is named as the sole defendant.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026, stems from a scandal involving certificate forgery. This scandal was uncovered by a PREMIUM TIMES investigation.

The charges were filed just five days after Mr Nnaji was arrested. He was taken into custody on Wednesday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after arriving from Enugu on a chartered flight. His arrest followed a detailed two-year investigation released by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year. That investigation revealed that Mr Nnaji had forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. He submitted these documents during his ministerial confirmation to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate in 2023.

The Six Charges Against Nnaji

The first count claims that Mr Nnaji “took possession” of N29.5 million (N29,578,466.67) through his Fidelity Bank account as salary and allowances while he was Minister. The ICPC says he knew these funds were linked to unlawful activities, namely corruption and fraud.

The ICPC argues that by doing this, Mr Nnaji broke Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which is punishable under Section 18(3).

In the second count, he is accused of using his position to give himself a “corrupt advantage” during his time in office. The charge sheet states, “You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Count three alleges that Mr Nnaji knowingly provided false information to mislead the Federal Government. He is accused of presenting a “false Certificate of National Service” (Certificate Number: A231309) for his ministerial appointment. The ICPC claims this act violates Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The fourth count states that in August 2023, Mr Nnaji gave “false information” by presenting a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate (Certificate Number: 004501), knowing it was false, which also violates the Corrupt Practices Act.

Count five alleges that around May 1986, Mr Nnaji produced a false document, the Certificate of National Service (No. A231309), and used it as genuine. This is said to break Section 363 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 354.

In count six, a man named Geoffrey Nnaji Uchechukwu (63) of Plot 1855, Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro, Abuja, is accused of knowingly producing a false document. He allegedly created a “University Degree Certificate of Microbiology/Biochemistry with Certificate Number: 004501” from UNN around July 1985. He is said to have used this document as if it were genuine, which violates Section 363 and is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

Mr Nnaji is expected to be arraigned in court soon.

Background of the Case

In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES started to look into Mr Nnaji's academic records. The former minister had submitted his degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his confirmation. He claimed he graduated from UNN in 1985.

Worried about the investigation, Mr Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He wanted to stop UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records. Other defendants included the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, the university’s registrar, its former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofo Ujam, and the University Senate. Recently, he sought an out-of-court settlement through his lawyers.

Before Mr Nnaji could get a court order, Mr Ortuanya responded to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) request. He confirmed that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate. The university registrar later confirmed this, stating that while Mr Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he neither graduated nor received a certificate.

NYSC officials also denied the discharge certificate Mr Nnaji had in his possession after another FOI request. Mr Nnaji resigned from his ministerial position just three days after PREMIUM TIMES published the investigation.