By John Azu
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of certificate forgery, corruption, and financial misconduct.
Nnaji, 63, was brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a six-count charge bordering on alleged forgery of academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates, abuse of office, and unlawful receipt of public funds.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, Justice Abdulmalik admitted him to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like amount. The court ordered that the surety must be a serving civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must own landed property within Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, the ICPC alleges that Nnaji received N29,578,466.67 through his Fidelity Bank account as salaries and allowances while serving as minister, despite allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts, including corruption and fraud. The offence is said to contravene Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency further accused him of using his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself, an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In another count, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged NYSC Certificate of National Service, numbered A231309, to the Federal Government to facilitate his appointment as minister, contrary to Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
The commission also alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate Number 004501, knowing it to be false.
The remaining counts accuse the former minister of producing and using forged versions of both the NYSC certificate and the university degree certificate as genuine, offences said to have been committed in 1986 and 1985 respectively, contrary to Sections 363 and 354 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and the Global Gender Safety and Moral Development, Comrade Shuaibu Abdulkabir, has urged relevant authorities to ensure that the case is prosecuted transparently and in accordance with the law.
He stressed that no individual should be treated as being above the law, adding that where criminal liability is established through due process, appropriate sanctions should be imposed to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s educational institutions, particularly the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The case has been adjourned for the commencement of trial.