Court grants ex-Minister Uche Nnaji N20m bail over alleged certificate forgery

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N20 million bail to former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, after he pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of alleged certificate forgery filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Nnaji, who served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet from August 16, 2023, until his resignation on October 6, 2025, was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Monday.

The ICPC accused the former minister of forging academic credentials, including a degree certificate purportedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and presenting a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following an application by his defence counsel, Chief James Onoja (SAN), the court admitted Nnaji to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the surety must be a civil servant resident in Abuja and not below Grade Level 15.

The court also directed the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, while ordering the former minister to surrender his international passport and refrain from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.

The case was adjourned until July 21 for the commencement of trial.

Nnaji was arrested by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1 upon his return to the Federal Capital Territory.

The ICPC had said the arrest was carried out to facilitate investigations into the allegations against him.