The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has finally launched a search for a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over his alleged certificate forgery scandal.
The ICPC has been investigating Mr Nnaji’s forgery scandal.
Insiders had alleged that the former minister could be prosecuted if the investigation showed that he truly forged his credentials.
The ICPC’s investigation followed a painstaking two-year investigation published by a section of the media in October last year, which revealed that the then-minister forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
An insider said the anti-graft agency had now advanced its investigation into the forgery scandal against the former minister.
Reliable sources familiar with the development said that the ICPC’s manhunt for Mr Nnaji followed the former minister’s failure to honour invitations issued by the anti-graft agency regarding his forgery scandal.
An insider, who asked not to be named because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, said the UNN management had responded to the ICPC’s enquiries regarding the ongoing probe, and the former minister had been repeatedly invited for interrogation.
He said the ICPC had extended invitations to Mr Nnaji via WhatsApp, email, and phone for scheduled interrogations, but the former minister had allegedly failed to show up.
“The ICPC is looking for him everywhere to possibly arrest him, and if we can’t find him, we will most likely declare him wanted,” the source said..
Immunity from criminal prosecution
Mr Nnaji’s refusal or failure to honour ICPC invitations extended to him was based on his strategy to continue hiding in the hope of enjoying immunity from criminal prosecution if he wins the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
The former minister quietly moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under which he unsuccessfully contested the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State.
In late May, Mr Nnaji emerged as the governorship candidate of the Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A section of the media had exclusively reported that Mr Nnaji was desperate to become governor, among other reasons, to enjoy immunity from prosecution if he wins the governorship poll.
Uche Nnaji’s silence
Robert Ngwu, the special adviser on media to Mr Nnaji, did not respond to multiple calls seeking his comments since Monday.
Mr Ngwu received and read an enquiry forwarded to him via WhatsApp on Monday, but had yet to respond as of Tuesday morning.
Background
In October 2023, the media began investigating Mr Nnaji’s academic records.
The then-minister had submitted a degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
He claimed he obtained a degree certificate from UNN, where he purportedly graduated in 1985.
Apparently disturbed by the scrutiny, Mr Nnaji filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to block both UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a Professor, from releasing his academic records.
Apart from the UNN and its vice-chancellor, the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, the university’s Registrar, its former Acting Vice-Chancellor.
