Court Fixes Date to Arraign Ex-Minister Nnaji Over Corruption, Certificate Forgery

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, July 13, 2026, for the arraignment of former Minister of Science and Technology and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Godfrey Uche Nnaji, over allegations of corruption and certificate forgery.

The case is expected to come before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce following investigations conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the anti-corruption agency completed its investigation and is prepared to formally charge the former minister before the court.

According to the sources, the investigation was launched after a petition alleging misconduct was submitted to the commission. The petition reportedly raised concerns over the authenticity of some credentials allegedly presented by Nnaji in the course of his public service career.

Investigators are also said to have examined allegations linked to corruption-related offences during the course of the probe.

A source close to the investigation said the commission believes it has gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute the former minister.

The development comes days after the ICPC confirmed Nnaji’s arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The commission said he was taken into custody on July 1 after security operatives executed a court-issued bench warrant against him upon his arrival in the country.

According to the agency, the operation was carried out with the support of personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), who later handed him over to ICPC officials for further investigation.

The anti-graft agency stated that before his arrest, it had invited Nnaji for questioning through a letter dated May 15, 2026. The invitation was reportedly delivered to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu and also sent electronically.

However, the former minister allegedly failed to honour the invitation, prompting the commission to seek legal backing for his arrest.

The Federal High Court subsequently granted a bench warrant on June 11, 2026, authorising the commission to arrest and produce him for investigation.

At the centre of the case are allegations that Nnaji submitted questionable academic and national service credentials.

The ICPC is investigating claims that a degree certificate purportedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as well as a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate allegedly presented during his ministerial screening process in 2023, may have been falsified.

Following his arrest, Nnaji was detained at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja where investigators continued work on the matter ahead of his planned arraignment.

The commission has maintained that its actions were carried out within the provisions of the law and insisted that due process would be followed throughout the prosecution.