The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to arrest the immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, for alleged certificate forgery.
The court reportedly gave the order on Thursday following an ex parte motion filed by the ICPC in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
The new development came after the Premium Times’ two-year investigation published in October last year, alleging that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps certificate.
The certificates were allegedly submitted to President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
The ICPC’s ex parte motion, filed June 4, was supported by an affidavit deposed to by David Nelson, dated June 3. The commission filed a written address before the court.
The ICPC was named as the applicant and the Federal Government and Nnaji as the sole defendant.
The anti-graft agency, through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court the motion emanated from Nnaji’s refusal to honour invitations for “investigative activities” relating to the alleged certificate forgery.
Court Approves Request
The ICPC also prayed the court to order Nnaji to publish an order declaring him wanted in any national newspaper, on social media platforms or through any other medium for failing to honour its invitation.
The commission also prayed for a bench warrant to be issued directing its operatives, other enforcement agents or private citizens to identify and arrest the former minister and hand him over to the ICPC for investigation.
The court’s ruling granted the commission’s requests. It empowered the ICPC to declare Nnaji wanted and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court directed the operatives of the ICPC, other security agents and private citizens to track him down and arrest him and hand him over to the commission.
The court also ordered that the order would stay until Nnaji is arrested.
A copy of the warrant of arrest obtained by our correspondent reportedly showed that the ex-minister is being investigated for alleged forgery, abuse of office and conferment of unfair advantage when he was a minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ICPC is expected to arraign Nnaji on his arrest over the alleged offences.
Last week, news broke that the anti-graft agency had declared a manhunt for the former minister, over allegations of certificate forgery.
