Former Minister Uche Nnaji to Face Court Over Forged Certificates

A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is set to appear in a federal high court on Monday, 13 July.

Mr Nnaji will be in front of Justice Abdulmalik Joyce at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will bring Mr Nnaji to court. This anti-graft agency is prosecuting him for the certificate forgery case.

Sources close to the investigation said Mr Nnaji's court appearance follows the end of the investigation into his scandal. Criminal charges have been filed against him.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the ICPC filed six charges against Mr Nnaji related to the certificate forgery scandal.

These charges came just five days after Mr Nnaji was arrested on 1 July at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after arriving from Enugu on a chartered flight.

His arrest was linked to a two-year investigation that PREMIUM TIMES published in October last year. The report revealed that Mr Nnaji forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates, which he presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

Details of the Six Charges

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained the charge sheet that outlines the six counts against Mr Nnaji.

Count one claims that Mr Nnaji “took possession” of N29.5 million (N29,578,466.67) through his Fidelity Bank account as salary and allowances during his time as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. The ICPC argues he should have known these funds were linked to unlawful activities, like corruption and fraud.

This action goes against Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count two accuses him of using his ministerial position to “confer corrupt advantage” on himself during that time. 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, “with intent to mislead the Federal Government of Nigeria, knowingly gave false information” by presenting a “false Certificate of National Service” (Certificate Number: A231309) for his ministerial appointment.

The ICPC says this act violates Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In count four, the ICPC says that in August 2023, Mr Nnaji knowingly gave “false information” by presenting a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate (Certificate Number: 004501) to the government, knowing it was false. This also breaks the same section of the Corrupt Practices Act.

Count five states that, around May 1986, Mr Nnaji knowingly produced a false document, the Certificate of National Service (No. A231309), and used it as if it were genuine. This act violates Section 363 and is punishable under Section 354 of the Penal Code.

Count six involves Geoffrey Nnaji Uchechukwu (63), of Plot 1855, Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro, Abuja. He is accused of producing a false document, a “University Degree Certificate of Microbiology/Biochemistry with Certificate Number: 004501”, which he claimed was issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, around July 1985.

He is also accused of using this document as if it were real, which violates Section 363 and is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

Background Information

In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES started looking into Mr Nnaji’s academic background. The former minister had submitted his degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his confirmation process. He claimed he earned a degree from UNN in 1985.

Concerned 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 sharing 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 replied to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) letter. He confirmed that Mr Nnaji forged his UNN degree certificate.

The university registrar later supported this, stating that though Mr Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not graduate or receive a certificate.

NYSC authorities also stated they did not recognize the discharge certificate Mr Nnaji had, in response to another FOI letter. He resigned from his ministerial position three days after PREMIUM TIMES published the investigation.

Earlier this year, lawyer Liborous Oshoma criticized the Nigerian government for not prosecuting Mr Nnaji. He argued that Mr Nnaji should be banned from public office as a warning.

In March, PREMIUM TIMES reported that an investigative panel set up by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that Mr Nnaji forged his certificates.

Mr Nnaji has since left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In late May, he became the governorship candidate of the Wike-backed PDP faction for the 2027 general elections. If he wins, he may gain immunity from prosecution.

In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest Mr Nnaji. He denied the existence of the order but filed an appeal against it on 18 June at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The ICPC also got a court warrant to hold the former minister for an initial 14 days.