ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-, The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed details of its ongoing investigation into former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, over allegations that he submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates during his ministerial screening in 2023.
According to the anti-graft agency, the investigation centres on claims that Nnaji presented a forged degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), alongside a false NYSC discharge certificate, documents it said formed part of the credentials that secured his appointment as a minister.
The Commission said it was forced to obtain a court order for his arrest after he allegedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning, enabling investigators to proceed with the probe.
ICPC disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Okor Odey.
According to the statement, Nnaji was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja shortly after arriving in the country.
The Commission said the operation was carried out with the support of the Department of State Services (DSS), which executed a Federal High Court bench warrant before handing the former minister over to ICPC investigators.
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“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji’s arrival.
“He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation,” the statement read.
ICPC explained that it initially invited Nnaji for questioning through a letter dated May 15, 2026, with reference number ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16.
“The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address.
“Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action,” the Commission stated.
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Following his failure to honour the invitations, ICPC approached the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, which granted its application in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026 on June 11, 2026, authorising his arrest to facilitate the investigation.
The Commission said investigators are focusing on two principal allegations.
They include the alleged forgery of academic credentials, specifically a degree certificate purportedly obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the submission of an allegedly false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.
“Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN);
“False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023,” Odey stated.
ICPC added that Nnaji remains in its custody at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja as investigations continue.
The anti-corruption agency, however, stressed that the allegations against the former minister have not been determined by any court of law and that he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.