Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged certificate forgery, marking a significant development in a case that has attracted national attention.
According to reports, Uche Nnaji was taken into custody shortly after arriving from Enugu aboard a chartered flight. Airport sources said the former minister is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
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The Uche Nnaji arrested development follows weeks of legal and investigative actions by the anti-graft agency. In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the ICPC permission to arrest the former minister and declare him wanted after the commission argued that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations issued as part of its investigation.
The ICPC told the court that its ex parte application became necessary after several unsuccessful attempts to secure Nnaji’s appearance for what it described as investigative activities relating to allegations of forged academic credentials.
The investigation centres on allegations surrounding the authenticity of academic credentials submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023, including claims relating to a university degree and National Youth Service Corps documentation.
The report claimed the documents were presented to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service.
According to the publication, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka did not issue him a degree certificate, although he has consistently disputed allegations of wrongdoing and previously described reports surrounding the case as a “media trial.” He also filed an appeal challenging the court order authorising his arrest.
The former minister resigned from office in 2025 after the controversy intensified, maintaining that his decision was intended to allow due process to take its course while denying criminal conduct.
As of the time of reporting, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the arrest or outlining the next steps in its investigation.
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Likewise, there was no immediate response from Nnaji or his legal representatives regarding Wednesday’s development.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
