Uche Nnaji's Arrest Warrant Finally Issued Over Certificate Forgery

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the ICPC to arrest former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, for certificate forgery. The ruling came on Thursday following an ex parte motion by the anti-graft agency, which accused Nnaji of failing to honour invitations for investigation. This is the culmination of a two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES that exposed how Nnaji forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The court has also granted the ICPC permission to declare Nnaji wanted in national newspapers and on social media, and issued a bench warrant directing operatives and even private citizens to arrest him. UNN's vice-chancellor had already confirmed that Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never graduated, while NYSC authorities disowned his discharge certificate. Nnaji resigned three days after the investigation was published, but many Nigerians insisted that was not enough — he must face prosecution.

So after all the grand titles and ministerial appointments, this is where we are. A man who allegedly forged documents to serve in the highest levels of government is now a fugitive. The question is: how did his credentials pass the initial screening by the Senate and the presidency in the first place? Who else is sitting in offices with similar papers?