Alleged certificate forgery: Ex-Minister Nnaji pleads not guilty, gets N20m bail

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Uche Nnaji

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja

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The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted N20 million bail to the former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, after he pleaded not guilty to a six-count certificate forgery charge the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed against him.

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The anti-corruption agency alleged that Nnaji, who was a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet from August 16, 2023, to October 6, 2025, before he resigned, forged his academic credentials, especially a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

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He was further accused of presenting a bogus National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening process in 2023.

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However, the defendant pleaded his innocence to the charge that was read to him before the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

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Following an application by the defence team led by Chief James Onoja, SAN, the court admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in the like sum.

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The court stressed that the surety must be a civil servant resident in Abuja who must not be below grade level 15.

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Aside from mandating the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, the court ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport and not travel outside the country without permission.

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Justice Abdulmalik fixed July 21 for the commencement of the trial.

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It will be recalled that security operatives arrested the former minister at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, upon his return to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The ICPC confirmed his arrest was to facilitate its investigation into allegations against him.

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