ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, pleaded not guilty on Monday, July 13, 2026, to a six-count charge of forging educational certificates and money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Okay News reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Nnaji before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik for allegedly presenting a forged University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his 2023 ministerial screening.
The prosecution stated the charges cover claims of receiving approximately N29.5 million (USD 21,340) in salary and emoluments under false pretenses. The prosecutor informed the court they were prepared to proceed to trial, noting three witnesses were already present in the courtroom.
Ogwu Onoja, SAN, counsel for the defendant, requested additional time to prepare for trial and moved a pending bail application filed on July 9, 2026. The prosecutor did not oppose the application for bail.
Justice Abdulmalik granted bail set at N20 million (USD 14,468) with one surety residing in Abuja who must be at or above level 15 in the Federal Civil Service. Additional bail terms require the defendant to deposit his official and personal passports.
Nnaji, who is the People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, resigned from his ministerial position on October 7, 2025. He said the move was a “principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process.”
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Nnaji at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his arrival from Enugu on June 30, 2026. The arrest followed a Federal High Court order issued on June 11, 2026, after he allegedly failed to honor multiple invitations for investigative interviews. Both UNN and the NYSC have reportedly disowned the certificates in question.
