Uche Nnaji, a former minister of innovation, science and technology, is set to be arraigned before a federal high court on Monday, 13 July.
According to reports, Nnaji is expected to be arraigned before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the anti-graft agency prosecuting the former minister.
The former minister’s arraignment followed the conclusion of the investigation into his certificate forgery scandal and filing of criminal charges against the former minister.
The ICPC had filed six criminal charges against Mr Nnaji over his certificate forgery scandal.
Nnaji was arrested by officials of the anti-graft agencyon 1 July at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.
His arrest followed a publicationby Premium Times, which revealed that the then-minister forged his UNN degree and NYSCcertificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
The six-count charge against Nnaji, according to Premium Times, are:
Count one states that Mr Nnaji “took possession” of N29.5 million (N29,578,466.67) through his Fidelity Bank account as basic salary and allowances while serving as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, “when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud.”
The ICPC argued that, by this act, Mr Nnaji committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count two accuses him of using his ministerial office to “confer corrupt advantage” on himself during the same period. “You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the charge sheet reads.
Under count three, the ICPC alleges that Mr Nnaji, “with intent to mislead the Federal Government of Nigeria, knowingly gave false information” by presenting a “false Certificate of National Service” (Certificate Number: A231309) to the government for his ministerial appointment.
The commission said he committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count four alleges that, in August 2023, Mr Nnaji knowingly gave “false information” by presenting a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate (Certificate Number: 004501) to the government, knowing it to be false, thereby violating the same section of the Corrupt Practices Act.
In count five, the ICPC alleges that, around May 1986, Mr Nnaji knowingly produced a false document – the Certificate of National Service (No. A231309) – and used it as genuine, committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Count six alleges that Geoffrey Nnaji Uchechukwu (63), of Plot 1855, Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro, Abuja, knowingly produced a false document – a “University Degree Certificate of Microbiology/Biochemistry with Certificate Number: 004501”—purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, around July 1985.
He is accused of using the document as genuine, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
