Ex-Minister Nnaji Faces Monday Arraignment Over Alleged Forged Certificates

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Godfrey Uche Nnaji, will be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 13, 2026, over allegations of forging academic and national service certificates, following an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The arraignment is expected to take place before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce after months of investigation by the anti-graft agency.

Sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that the ICPC concluded its investigation after acting on a petition reportedly submitted by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre).

According to one of the sources, the commission is confident of securing a conviction.

“The ICPC lead investigator has assured of a watertight case against the former minister,” the source said.

The development comes days after the ICPC confirmed Nnaji’s arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, 2026, upon his arrival in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, the ICPC said the arrest was carried out with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court.

The commission said it had earlier invited Nnaji for questioning through a letter dated May 15, 2026, which was served at his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as through his email address. However, it alleged that he failed to honour the invitations, prompting it to obtain a bench warrant from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The warrant, granted on June 11, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026, authorised the commission to arrest the former minister as part of its ongoing investigation.

According to the ICPC, Nnaji is being investigated over allegations bordering on the forgery of a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate allegedly submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The anti-corruption agency said Nnaji was taken into custody at its headquarters in Abuja following his arrest and maintained that the case would be pursued in accordance with the law.