Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, over allegations of certificate forgery.
Nnaji was reportedly taken into custody on Wednesday after arriving from Enugu aboard a chartered flight and is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning.
The ICPC has been investigating allegations that the former minister submitted forged academic credentials, including a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate during his ministerial screening and confirmation in 2023.
The investigation followed claims that the documents were presented to government agencies involved in the vetting process. Reports also indicate that Nnaji later admitted that UNN did not issue him the degree certificate in question.
In June, a Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and declare him wanted after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning.
Nnaji had earlier dismissed reports surrounding the court order as a “media trial” and filed an appeal challenging the arrest order at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The ICPC is yet to issue an official statement on the arrest.
