Ex-Minister’s Trial Adjourned to October 26
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday released the international passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the release of the travel document after granting an application filed by Nnaji’s counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN.
The judge subsequently adjourned the alleged certificate forgery and corruption case against the former minister until October 26, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on July 13, 2026, arraigned Nnaji, 63, on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information and corruption.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 in salary and allowances through a bank account, which the ICPC described as proceeds of unlawful acts under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, the anti-corruption agency alleged that Nnaji used his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same amount as salary and allowances, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts concern alleged certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents.
The ICPC specifically alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during documentation for his appointment as minister.
The commission also alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.
According to the prosecution, Nnaji allegedly made and used the two documents as genuine despite knowing that they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
At Monday’s proceedings, Onoja moved the application seeking the release of his client’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Abdulmalik, in a brief ruling, granted the application and ordered the release of the passport.
The development followed an earlier bail ruling in which the former minister was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦20 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court had directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
The surety was also required to provide evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the preceding three months.
The court further ordered the relevant government authority to verify the surety’s employment status.
Justice Abdulmalik had also directed Nnaji to deposit his international passport and all other travel documents with the court pending the determination of the criminal case.
During the earlier proceedings, ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the prosecution was ready to commence trial and had three witnesses available to testify.
He, however, did not oppose the bail application, leaving the matter to the discretion of the court.
Nnaji has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations against him remain subject to determination by the court.
