Uche Nnaji Faces Jail Time Over Forgery and Money Laundering Charges

A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is at risk of multiple jail terms for certificate forgery and money laundering. This follows a review of laws that outline the punishment for his alleged crimes.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Mr Nnaji before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 13 July.

The court later adjourned his trial to 21 September this year.

The ICPC filed a six-count charge against the former minister after his arrest on 1 July. His arrest came after a thorough two-year investigation, which PREMIUM TIMES published in October last year. The investigation showed that Mr Nnaji forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates. He submitted these documents to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The Charges and Possible Jail Terms

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the criminal charge sheet detailing the six counts against Mr Nnaji. A review of laws regarding his alleged offences indicates that he could face a maximum of 57 years in prison or at least 47 years if convicted.

Here is a breakdown of the laws and their punishments.

Count one claims that Mr Nnaji took possession of N29.5 million through his Fidelity bank account as salary while serving as minister. He should have known that these funds were part of an unlawful act. This violates Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

According to Section 18(2)(d), “any person or corporate body whether in or outside Nigeria, who directly or indirectly acquires, uses, retains, or takes possession or control of, any fund or property, while intentionally, knowingly, or where the person reasonably ought to have known that the fund or property is or forms part of, the proceeds of an unlawful act,” is guilty of money laundering.

Section 18(3) states that convicted offenders face imprisonment for not less than four years and not more than 14 years, or a fine of not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime, or both.

Count two alleges that Mr Nnaji used his ministerial position to “confer corrupt advantage” on himself, which is against Section 19 of the ICPC Act, 2000.

“Any public officer who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without option of fine,” according to the ICPC Act.

In count three, Mr Nnaji reportedly misled the Nigerian government by giving false information and presenting a false NYSC Certificate of National Service for his ministerial appointment. This violates Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000.

Section 17(1)(c) criminalizes knowingly providing or using a materially false, erroneous or defective document with the intention to deceive or mislead. Offenders face up to five years imprisonment under this law.

Count four states that in August 2023, Mr Nnaji presented a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate knowing it was false, also violating the ICPC Act. If convicted, he could face an additional five years imprisonment.

Count five claims that around May 1986, Mr Nnaji created a false document, the Certificate of National Service, and used it as genuine, committing an offence under Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

PREMIUM TIMES reviewed the Penal Code and found that Section 363 criminalizes forgery. Section 364 states that “Whoever commits forgery shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or with fine or with both.”

This law applies in northern Nigeria, where Mr Nnaji is on trial for these alleged offences.

Count six accuses Mr Nnaji of producing a false document, a “University Degree Certificate of Microbiology/Biochemistry,” which he allegedly issued around July 1985. Using this document as genuine also violates the Penal Code, carrying a possible 14-year sentence if convicted.

The possible jail terms differ from fines outlined in the charges. The highest jail term for each charge can reach 14 years. If convicted, Mr Nnaji could serve 14 years in prison if the sentences run concurrently or up to 47 years if served consecutively.

Previous Convictions Based on Similar Charges

In 2014, the ICPC put the ICPC Act 2000 to the test. They secured a conviction against Bello Ahmed, the then-Acting Provost of the Federal College of Education, Technical, Gusau. He was sentenced to five years for collecting double Duty Tour Allowance for the same trip, violating Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

Last month, the ICPC also convicted Idris Barde, a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for job racketeering. Justice Ngozika Nwabulu convicted him after finding him guilty of accepting bribes to secure employment in the NSCDC, violating Section 18 of the ICPC Act.

In June 2025, under the Penal Code, the ICPC convicted Iyonu Eseme, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria staff member, for using a forged Trade Test Certificate to gain employment.

Background

In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES began looking into Mr Nnaji’s academic records. He had submitted his degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate, claiming he obtained a degree from UNN in 1985.

Concerned about the investigation, Mr Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop UNN and its Vice-Chancellor from releasing his academic records. Other defendants included the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission.

Recently, the politician sought an out-of-court settlement through his legal team. Before he could get a court injunction, Mr Ortuanya responded to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information request, confirming that Mr Nnaji had forged his UNN degree certificate.

The university registrar later confirmed that while Mr Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not graduate or receive a certificate. NYSC authorities also disowned the discharge certificate Mr Nnaji held in response to a separate FOI request.

Mr Nnaji resigned from his ministerial position three days after PREMIUM TIMES published the investigation.

Earlier this year, legal expert Liborous Oshoma criticized the Nigerian government for not prosecuting Mr Nnaji. He said he should be barred from public office to deter others.

In March, PREMIUM TIMES reported that an investigative panel set up by the Minister of Education confirmed Mr Nnaji forged his certificates. He later switched from the ruling APC to the PDP. In late May, he became the governorship candidate of the Wike-backed PDP faction for the 2027 elections.

Reports suggest Mr Nnaji is seeking the governorship to gain immunity from prosecution. In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest him.

Though he denied the order, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on 18 June. The ICPC arrested him despite his appeal. The commission also secured a court warrant to detain Mr Nnaji for an initial 14 days.