APC chieftain arrested for certificate forgery

Former Science and Technology Minister Uche Nnaji Arrested Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

The immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, , has been arrested in connection with an alleged certificate forgery case.

According to a report by Premium Times, Nnaji was arrested at the shortly after arriving from Enugu aboard a chartered flight. He is expected to be handed over to the (ICPC) for interrogation.

The report said the ICPC had been investigating the former minister since his resignation from office last year after allegations emerged that he forged his academic credentials.

In mid-June, the reportedly ordered the ICPC to arrest Nnaji as part of its investigation into the alleged certificate forgery. The court also granted the commission permission to declare him wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms and other media outlets.

The anti-corruption agency told the court that its ex parte application became necessary after Nnaji repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning over the allegations.

The investigation followed a two-year probe by Premium Times, published in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji forged his degree certificate from (UNN) and his (NYSC) certificate.

According to the publication, the disputed documents were submitted to and the Nigerian Senate during Nnaji’s ministerial confirmation process in 2023. The report further alleged that the same documents were presented to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service and the Senate.

Premium Times also reported that the former minister later admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, never issued him a degree certificate.

Neither Nnaji nor the ICPC had issued an official public statement on the reported arrest at the time of

filing this report.