Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, over allegations that he forged his academic certificates.
Nnaji was apprehended on Wednesday shortly after arriving from Enugu aboard a chartered flight, according to authoritative airport sources.
The former minister is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation as the agency intensifies its investigation into the alleged certificate forgery.
His arrest comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the ICPC permission to arrest him and declare him wanted. The court also authorised the anti-corruption agency to publish his wanted status in national newspapers, on social media platforms and through other media channels.
According to court documents, the ICPC sought the ex parte order after Nnaji allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning over the allegations.
The commission told the court that repeated efforts to secure his appearance for investigative activities were unsuccessful, leaving it with no option but to seek judicial approval for his arrest and public declaration as a wanted person.
Nnaji was eventually arrested upon his arrival at the Abuja airport on Wednesday and is expected to be transferred to the ICPC for further investigation.
INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC)
Wednesday 01 July, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
ICPC ARRESTS FORMER MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION -MR GEOFFREY UCHECHUKWU NNAJI OVER CERTIFICATE FORGERY ALLEGATIONS
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (M), following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji's arrival. He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated 15 May 2026. The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address. Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.
The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026). The order, issued on 11 June 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation into allegations bordering on:
1. Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); and
2. False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
Following the arrest, Mr. Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations are expected to continue. The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.
J. Okor Odey
Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC