Court orders arrest of Tinubu’s ex minister
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over allegations linked to certificate forgery.
The order was granted on Thursday after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed an ex parte application before the court in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
The development follows investigations into claims that Nnaji submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) documents during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
Court documents showed that the ICPC approached the court after the former minister allegedly failed to honour several invitations issued by the anti-corruption agency as part of its ongoing investigation.
Through its legal representative, the commission requested permission to publicly declare Nnaji wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other communication channels.
It also sought a warrant authorising its operatives, other law enforcement agencies and even private citizens to apprehend him and hand him over to the commission for investigation.
After considering the application, the court granted the requests. It approved the public declaration of the former minister as wanted and issued a warrant directing security operatives to arrest and deliver him to the ICPC.
The court further stated that the order would remain in force until he is arrested.
Documents linked to the warrant indicate that the ICPC is investigating Nnaji over allegations of forgery, abuse of office and granting unfair advantage while serving as a minister in the Federal Government.
The commission is expected to formally charge him in court after his arrest if sufficient grounds for prosecution are established.
The case stems from a long-running controversy surrounding Nnaji’s educational credentials.
Investigations into the matter began in 2023 after questions were raised about certificates he submitted as part of his nomination and confirmation process.
Nnaji had claimed he graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985 and presented documents to support that claim.
However, university officials later reportedly stated that although he was admitted into the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never issued a degree certificate.
The controversy deepened when authorities of the National Youth Service Corps reportedly disowned the discharge certificate attributed to the former minister.
While scrutiny over the documents was ongoing, Nnaji filed a suit seeking to prevent the release of his academic records.
Among those listed in the suit were the university, its leadership and other education-related authorities. The matter later moved towards settlement discussions outside the courtroom.
The scandal eventually led to his resignation from the Federal Executive Council shortly after reports detailing the allegations became public.
Since then, several individuals and groups have called for legal action, arguing that resignation alone was not enough considering the seriousness of the allegations.
Earlier this year, an investigative panel reportedly established by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, also concluded that the certificates presented by Nnaji were not genuine.
The former minister left the ruling All Progressives Congress and joined the Peoples Democratic Party.
He later emerged as the governorship candidate of a PDP faction ahead of the 2027 election in Enugu State.
