The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun searching for Uche Nnaji, a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. This follows a scandal involving certificate forgery.
The ICPC has been looking into Mr Nnaji's case. Sources told this newspaper that he could face prosecution if the investigation proves he forged his credentials.
The investigation comes after a two-year probe published by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year. The report revealed that while he was a minister, Mr Nnaji submitted forged degree and NYSC certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate for his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
Sources say the ICPC’s investigation into Mr Nnaji’s forgery case has now intensified.
Reliable sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the search for Mr Nnaji began after he ignored invitations from the ICPC to discuss the forgery issue. An insider, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the management of UNN had answered the ICPC's questions about the ongoing investigation. They noted that Mr Nnaji had been invited multiple times for questioning.
The ICPC sent invitations to Mr Nnaji via WhatsApp, email, and phone but he did not respond. “The ICPC is looking for him everywhere to possibly arrest him, and if we can’t find him, we will most likely declare him wanted,” the source shared with PREMIUM TIMES.
Another source mentioned that Mr Nnaji was avoiding the ICPC’s invitations because he hopes to win the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State, which might give him immunity from prosecution.
Earlier reports revealed that Mr Nnaji quietly switched to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He had run for governor under the APC in 2023 but did not win.
In late May, Mr Nnaji became the governorship candidate for a faction of the PDP backed by Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2027 elections. PREMIUM TIMES reported that he is eager to become governor partly to avoid legal issues if he wins.
Robert Ngwu, the media adviser to Mr Nnaji, did not answer several calls from PREMIUM TIMES seeking his comments since Monday. Mr Ngwu read a WhatsApp message sent to him but had not replied by Tuesday morning.
In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES started looking into Mr Nnaji’s academic records. The former minister had claimed he graduated from UNN in 1985 and submitted his degree and NYSC certificates during his ministerial confirmation.
Feeling the pressure, Mr Nnaji went to court in Abuja, trying to stop UNN and its vice-chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records. Besides UNN, he also listed the minister of education, the National Universities Commission, and several university officials as defendants in his case.
Recently, Mr Nnaji’s legal team sought an out-of-court settlement. Before he could get a court order, Mr Ortuanya responded to PREMIUM TIMES’ Freedom of Information request. He confirmed that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate.
The UNN registrar later supported this, saying Mr Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but did not graduate or receive any certificate. The NYSC also rejected the discharge certificate Mr Nnaji had.
Mr Nnaji resigned as minister three days after PREMIUM TIMES published the investigation about his forged documents. Many Nigerians have called for his prosecution, arguing that his resignation is not enough because he broke several laws.
Earlier this year, lawyer Liborous Oshoma criticized the government for not prosecuting Mr Nnaji. He stated that individuals like Mr Nnaji should face legal consequences to deter others from similar actions.
In March, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a panel set up by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that Mr Nnaji had indeed forged his degree and NYSC certificates.
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