Court releases ex-minister Nnaji’s passport

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of the international passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday after a motion filed by the defendant’s counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, was moved. In a short ruling, she granted the application and adjourned the matter until 26 October 2026 for continuation of trial.

Nnaji, 63, is standing trial on a six-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He was arraigned on 13 July and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The ICPC alleges that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 as salary and allowances through a bank account. The commission described the sum as “proceeds of unlawful acts” under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused him of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same sum, 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. The ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during documentation for his ministerial appointment.

It further alleged that he submitted a 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 certificates as genuine despite knowing they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

Shortly after the plea, Onoja told the court he had filed a bail application. Prosecution counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha said the ICPC was ready to proceed with trial and had three witnesses lined up, but did not oppose bail, leaving the matter to the court’s discretion.

Justice Abdulmalik admitted Nnaji to bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 who has maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.

The judge directed the surety to produce evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the last three months, and ordered that the appropriate government authority be notified to verify the surety’s employment status.

She also ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and all other travel documents with the court, which is the passport now released.

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