The Federal High Court 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 after an ex parte motion filed by the ICPC in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
The development came after a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, alleging that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps certificate.
The certificates were purportedly 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 also filed a written address before the court .
The Federal Government, represented by the ICPC, was listed as the applicant, while Nnaji was listed as the sole defendant.
The anti-graft agency, through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the motion arose from Nnaji’s failure to honour invitations for “investigative activities” over the alleged certificate forgery.
Court Approves Request
The ICPC prayed the court to issue an order declaring Nnaji wanted in any national newspaper, on social media platforms or through any other medium for failing to honour its invitations.
The commission also prayed for a bench warrant to be issued to direct 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, in its ruling, granted the commission’s requests. It gave the ICPC the power to declare Nnaji wanted and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court asked the operatives of the ICPC, other security agents and private citizens to locate and arrest him and hand him over to the commission.
The court also ruled that the order would remain in force until Nnaji is arrested.
A copy of the warrant of arrest reportedly revealed that the ex-minister is being investigated for alleged forgery, abuse of office and conferment of unfair advantage while serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ICPC is expected to arraign Nnaji on his arrest over the alleged offences.
The anti-graft agency declared a manhunt for the former minister last week over allegations of certificate forgery.
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