Federal High Court grants ex-Minister Uche Nnaji N20m bail in certificate forgery case
Earlier today, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted former Minister of Innovation Uche Nnaji N20 million bail with one surety of equal sum in an alleged certificate forgery and misappropriation case by the ICPC. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that since prosecutors didn't oppose bail and citing presumption of innocence, Nnaji must deposit both his international and Nigerian passports with the court, while his surety - a federal civil servant of Grade Level 15 or above residing within the court's jurisdiction - must execute a bail bond and submit a recent passport photo.
The case stems from allegations made during Nnaji's ministerial tenure (August 2023-October 2025) that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates during screening. Nnaji has consistently denied these claims as politically motivated, even suing UNN in November 2025 to obtain his academic transcript. The matter remains before courts as anti-corruption agencies continue investigating officials.
This development matters because it shows ICPC's ongoing probe into public officials while reinforcing the legal principle that suspects remain innocent until proven guilty. For Nigerians following accountability efforts, it highlights evidentiary challenges in corruption cases where document verification becomes central to proceedings.
With trial set for September 21, 2026, will you follow how the certificate verification process unfolds in court, or do you believe such allegations should trigger automatic suspension from office pending investigation?