Certificate ‘Forgery’: Court fixes July 21 for commencement of Nnaji’s trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed next week Monday, July 21, 2026 for the commencement of trial for a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, over alleged forgery of certificates.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after granting N20 million bail to Nnaji, after he had pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Daily Trust reports that operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) had earlier arrested the former minister at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, when he boarded a private jet to Abuja on July 1.

Nnaji was subsequently handed over to the ICPC upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a development authorities of the anti-graft agency confirmed.

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The Enugu-born politician, who was appointed minister on August 16, 2023, resigned from President Bola Tinubu-led government on October 6, 2025.

He exited the cabinet after it became public that he allegedly forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) First Degree and NYSC certificates.

UNN authorities had since disowned the certificate.

When the matter came up on Monday, the defendant pleaded his innocence to the charge that was read to him before the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

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

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

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.

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

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