Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to allegations of certificate forgery filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Nnaji was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on the alleged falsification of academic and service credentials.
The former minister, who served in President Bola Tinubu’s administration from August 2023 until his resignation in October 2025, denied all the allegations after the charges were read in open court.
According to the ICPC, Nnaji allegedly forged a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and also presented a fake National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate during the screening process that preceded his appointment as a minister.
The anti-graft agency maintained that its investigation uncovered discrepancies in the credentials submitted by the former minister, leading to the charges before the court.
Following his arraignment, defence counsel, Chief James Onoja (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail, arguing that he posed no flight risk and would be available to face trial.
Ruling on the application, Justice Abdulmalik admitted Nnaji to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like amount.
The judge stipulated that the surety must be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory and a serving civil servant not below Grade Level 15.
The court also directed the surety to provide an affidavit of means and ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registry.
In addition, Nnaji was prohibited from travelling outside the country without obtaining prior approval from the court.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 21 for the commencement of hearing.
The former minister's court appearance comes weeks after he was arrested by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The ICPC had said the arrest was part of investigations into allegations concerning the authenticity of his educational qualifications and NYSC records.
With the defendant now on bail, attention is expected to shift to the trial, where prosecutors will seek to establish the allegations, while the defence is expected to challenge the evidence and maintain Nnaji's innocence.
The case is one of the most high-profile credential-related prosecutions involving a former member of the Federal Executive Council in recent years.
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