A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order for the arrest of Uche Nnaji, a former minister of innovation, science and technology, who recently emerged as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Enugu State for the 2027 elections.
The court granted the order for the arrest following an ex parte motion filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Nnaji as minister in August 2023, but he resigned following allegations that he forged the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials submitted during his ministerial screening and confirmation process.
The ICPC’s ex parte motion dated June 3 was filed on June 4, and attached was an affidavit deposed by one David Nelson.
Osuobeni Akponimisingha, ICPC counsel, told the court that the ex parte motion follows Nnaji’s refusal to honour invitations extended to him by the commission for investigation over certificate forgery allegations.
Akponimisingha prayed the court to issue an order allowing the commission to declare Nnaji wanted in any national newspaper, social media platforms, or other medium for “failing to honour the commission’s invitations for investigation activities”.
The commission also asked the court to give an order issuing a bench/warrant of arrest, directing operatives of the commission or other enforcement agents, including private citizens, to identify and arrest Nnaji and hand him over to the ICPC for investigation.
It also appealed to the court to grant any orders as it might deem fit in the circumstances.
The court granted all the orders sought, and further ruled that the order would lapse only upon the arrest of the former minister.
(Ripples)
