The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has officially granted bail to the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji. The development occurred on Monday after the ex-cabinet member entered a plea of not guilty to a series of criminal charges brought against him, which include alleged certificate forgery, obtaining financial sums under false pretences, and money laundering. The legal action was initiated and filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a primary anti-graft agency of the federal government.
Nnaji was formally arraigned before the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on a comprehensive six-count charge. The anti-corruption agency explicitly accused the former minister of forging a Bachelor's degree certificate originating from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that Nnaji had forged a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate. According to the court documents presented by the commission, these specific academic and national service documents were allegedly submitted by the defendant to relevant authorities during his official ministerial screening exercise back in 2023.
In addition to the allegations surrounding his credentials, the charges brought forward by the commission also assert that the former minister unlawfully received approximately ₦29.5 million. The prosecution maintains that this substantial sum was paid out to him in the form of official government salaries and other ministerial emoluments under completely false pretences. The state argues that because his initial appointment was predicated on the presentation of allegedly fabricated documents, any subsequent financial benefits derived from the public office constitute a violation of national laws, thereby drawing additional charges related to money laundering.
When the six counts were formally read aloud in the courtroom, Nnaji stood before the judge and firmly pleaded not guilty to every single accusation leveled against him. Immediately following the formal entry of the not guilty plea, the lead defense counsel, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria named Ogwu Onoja, moved swiftly to submit a formal application for bail on behalf of his client, urging the court to release the former minister pending the determination of the substantive trial.
In response to the defense's request, the legal counsel representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission informed the court that the state was fully prepared to commence the trial without delay. The prosecution noted that it had already lined up three vital witnesses who were ready to testify in the matter. However, the state's lawyer chose not to oppose the defense's bail application, explicitly stating to the court that the decision to grant or deny the request remained entirely within the judicial discretion of the presiding judge.
After evaluating the arguments presented by both sides, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ultimately admitted the former minister to bail. The financial condition of the bail was set at the sum of ₦20 million, with the requirement of one reliable surety in an equivalent amount. To ensure the integrity of the process, the court imposed strict guidelines on who could act as a guarantor for the accused politician.
The judge ruled that the chosen surety must be an active federal civil servant holding a position not below Grade Level 15 within the civil service structure. Additionally, the individual must prove that they have maintained a fixed, verifiable place of residence for a consecutive period of at least four years. The court further mandated that the surety must provide an official letter of employment along with valid salary slips covering the last three months of service.
To prevent any administrative fraud, the judge directed that the relevant civil service authority must independently verify the employment status of the guarantor. As an additional precautionary measure to ensure the defendant's continued presence in the country, the judge ordered Nnaji to immediately surrender his international passport along with all other valid travel documents to the custody of the court registry. Following the finalization of these bail terms, the case was formally adjourned until September 21, 2026, marking the date when the main trial is scheduled to begin.
