Nnaji Pleads Not Guilty To Certificate Forgery Charges

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of certificate forgery.

He was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

Nnaji pleaded not guilty to six certificate forgery charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against him.

In the charges, ICPC alleged that Nnaji, who was a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration from 16 August 2023 to 6 October 2025, forged his academic certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

After he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and following the application by the defence team led by Chief James Onoja, SAN, the court admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety in the like sum.

The court said the surety must be a civil servant resident in Abuja who must not be below grade level 15.

Aside from mandating the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, the court ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport and not travel outside the country without permission.

Meanwhile, during the arraignment, a group numbering more than 300 stormed the court to demand accountability and the enforcement of the rule of law.

The group, Global Gender Safety and Moral Development, said public office demands honesty, accountability and respect for the rule of law.

The anti-corruption agency alleged that Nnaji, who served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet from 16 August 2023 to 6 October 2025 before resigning, forged his academic credentials, including a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The former Minister was charged with six counts of forgery of a UNN degree certificate and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, both allegedly submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The charges also include allegations that he received about N29.5 million in salary and emoluments under false pretences, as well as money laundering.

After the not-guilty plea, the prosecutor told the court that he was ready for trial, with three witnesses already in the courtroom.

Nnaji’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, asked Nnaji and drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed by. The prosecutor did not oppose the application.

In a short ruling, the judge granted Nnaji bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the federal civil service and reside in Abuja. The surety is required to depose to an affidavit of means.

Nnaji was also ordered to deposit his official and personal passports and not to travel outside the country without the court’s permission.

Nnaji’s arraignment followed investigations into the authenticity of his academic documents. Both UNN and the NYSC have reportedly disowned the certificates in question.