Court Grants Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji ₦20m Bail in Certificate Forgery Case

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, bail in the sum of ₦20 million after he pleaded not guilty to allegations of forging his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Nnaji was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a six-count charge bordering on the alleged forgery of a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and an NYSC discharge certificate reportedly submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The charges also include allegations that he fraudulently received about ₦29.5 million in salaries and emoluments under false pretences, as well as money laundering. Following his not guilty plea, the prosecution informed the court that it was ready to commence trial with three witnesses already present. However, defence counsel, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), requested more time to prepare and drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed on July 9.
The prosecution did not oppose the bail application, prompting the court to grant bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety who must be a Federal Civil Service officer not below Grade Level 15 and resident in Abuja. The court also ordered Nnaji to deposit both his official and personal passports.
The former minister is being prosecuted after months of investigation into the authenticity of his academic and NYSC certificates, which both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the NYSC reportedly disowned. He was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on June 30, 2026, upon his arrival from Enugu, following a court order issued on June 11 after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning.
Nnaji resigned from office on October 7, 2025, describing the decision as a principled move to allow due process while maintaining his innocence. He has also previously claimed that aspects of the case are politically motivated.
Meanwhile, over 300 members of the civil rights group, Global Gender Moral Development, staged a protest at the court, demanding accountability and strict adherence to the rule of law. Speaking with journalists, the group’s convener, Comrade Shuaibu Abdulkadir, said public office requires honesty and integrity, urging the Attorney General of the Federation, the ICPC, and other relevant authorities to ensure justice is served without fear or favour.
He stressed that the full weight of the law should be applied to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s educational institutions, insisting that no individual is above the law.