DSS arrests ex-minister Uche Nnaji over alleged certificate forgery

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of certificate forgery, before being handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.

The arrest was carried out on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja Judicial Division.

According to the ICPC, Nnaji was apprehended upon his arrival at the airport with the assistance of DSS operatives before being transferred to the commission’s custody.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, said the arrest followed Nnaji’s failure to honour several invitations extended to him during an ongoing investigation.

“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon 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,” Odey said.

According to the commission, it had earlier invited the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated May 15, 2026, which was served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu as well as through his email address.

The commission said Nnaji failed to appear for scheduled investigative interviews despite receiving the invitations through multiple channels.

“Despite service through multiple channels, Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action,” the statement added.

The ICPC disclosed that the subsequent legal action culminated in a Federal High Court order issued on June 11, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026, authorising the anti-corruption agency to arrest the former minister to facilitate investigations.

According to the commission, the investigation centres on allegations that Nnaji submitted forged academic credentials during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The allegations include the alleged forgery of a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as well as a false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate presented during the ministerial confirmation process.

Following his arrest, the former minister was taken to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigators are expected to continue questioning him.

“The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law,” the anti-graft agency stated.

The arrest marks the latest development in a controversy that forced Nnaji to resign from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in October 2025 after allegations surrounding his academic qualifications and NYSC certificate became public.

At the time of his resignation, Nnaji denied wrongdoing and insisted that stepping down should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

“My decision to step aside is, therefore, a personal choice, not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court.”

“In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just,” he said in his resignation statement.

He also maintained that the allegations against him were politically motivated.

“Over the past week, an orchestrated and sustained campaign of falsehoods, politically motivated and malicious attacks have been waged against my person, integrity, and office across print, electronic, and social media platforms,” Nnaji had said.

Before Wednesday’s arrest, the former minister had challenged the court order authorising his arrest, insisting he was not evading investigators.

However, the ICPC maintained that repeated invitations were ignored, making it necessary to obtain a bench warrant from the Federal High Court before requesting the DSS to assist in executing the arrest.

As of Thursday, July 2, 2026, Nnaji remains in the custody of the ICPC, while investigations into the alleged forgery of his academic and NYSC credentials continue.

No court has convicted him of the allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.