Court grants ex-minister Uche Nnaji permission to travel abroad for treatment

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted permission to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to travel abroad for medical treatment.

When the matter was called, counsel to Nnaji, Aji Kamale, moved a motion praying the court to release the former minister’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a short ruling, ordered the release of the passport.

She thereafter fixed October 26 for continuation of the trial.

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

Nnaji pleaded not guilty to the charges after he was arraigned before the court.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, Nnaji took possession of N29.58 million paid into his Fidelity Bank account as salaries and allowances while serving as minister.

The ICPC also alleged that he reasonably ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts, namely corruption and fraud.

The commission said the alleged offence contravened Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count two, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji used his office as minister to confer a corrupt advantage on himself, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The commission further alleged that, with intent to mislead the Federal Government, he knowingly presented a false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate during his ministerial appointment process.

It said the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The ICPC also alleged that, in August 2023, Nnaji knowingly presented a false Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

According to the charge, the act also contravened Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

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

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

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