Alleged forgery: Court frees Uche Nnaji’s passport, clears way for overseas medical treatment

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of the international passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

The development followed the consideration of a motion filed by the Chambers of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja.

The motion sought the release of Nnaji’s passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The court subsequently granted the request and released the former minister’s international passport.

In a short ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the release of his passport and fixed October 26 for continuation of trial.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on July 13 arraigned the former minister on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information and corruption.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the charges, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 through a Bank account as salary and allowances, which the commission described as “proceeds of unlawful acts, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused the former minister of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same sum as salary and allowances, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The remaining four counts relate to alleged certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents.

Specifically, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his ministerial appointment.

The commission further alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.

The prosecution also accused him of making and using both the NYSC certificate and the UNN degree certificate as genuine despite allegedly knowing they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

Shortly after the charges were read and the defendant entered his plea, his counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a motion seeking his client’s bail.

Counsel for the ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the prosecution was prepared to proceed with the trial and had three witnesses lined up to testify.

He, however, raised no objection to the bail application, leaving the decision to the discretion of the court.

In a ruling, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the former minister to bail in the sum of ₦20 million, with one surety in like sum.

The judge held that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, who must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.

The court further directed that the surety should produce evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the last three months.

It also ordered that the appropriate government authority be notified to verify the surety’s employment status.

Justice Abdulmalik also ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and every other travel document in his possession with the court.

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