A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over alleged certificate forgery.
Naijaonpoint reports that the court gave the order on Thursday following an ex parte motion filed by the ICPC in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
The development followed a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps certificate.
The certificates were reportedly submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
The ICPC’s ex parte motion, dated June 3 and filed on June 4, was supported by an affidavit deposed to by David Nelson. The commission also filed a written address before the court.
Nnaji was listed as the sole defendant, while the Federal Government, represented by the ICPC, was listed as the applicant.
Through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the anti-graft agency told the court that the motion followed Nnaji’s failure to honour invitations for “investigative activities” over the alleged certificate forgery.
The ICPC asked the court for permission to declare Nnaji wanted in any national newspaper, on social media platforms or through any other medium for failing to honour its invitations.
The commission also sought a bench warrant directing its operatives, other enforcement agents or private citizens to identify and arrest the former minister and hand him over to the ICPC for investigation.
In its ruling, the court granted the commission’s requests. It authorised the ICPC to declare Nnaji wanted and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court ordered operatives of the ICPC, other enforcement agents and private citizens to identify and arrest him and hand him over to the commission.
The court further ruled that the order would remain in force until Nnaji is arrested.
A copy of the warrant of arrest reportedly showed that the former minister is being investigated for alleged forgery, abuse of office and conferment of unfair advantage while serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ICPC is expected to arraign Nnaji upon his arrest over the alleged offences.
Last week, it was reported that the anti-graft agency had launched a manhunt for the former minister over the certificate forgery allegations.
