Uche Nnaji Arraigned for Corruption, Granted N20m Bail

Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Science and Technology, was arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on six counts related to corruption, including allegations of certificate forgery and providing false information. Nnaji, aged 63, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Joyc Abdulmalik.

The charges include receiving a total of N29,578,466.67 in salary and allowances unlawfully and presenting a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate during his ministerial appointment process. The ICPC also accused him of submitting a false degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

His counsel, Ogwu Onoja, filed a motion for bail, which was granted at N20 million with conditions including the provision of sureties who are federal civil servants of at least grade level 15. The trial is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2026.