By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, bail in the sum of N20 million after he was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery.
Nnaji, who was brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
In a brief ruling, the trial judge admitted the former minister to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety. The court ordered that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and resident in Abuja.
The judge also directed Nnaji to deposit both his official and international passports with the court pending the determination of the case.
The ICPC accused the former minister of forging academic credentials, including a degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as well as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate allegedly submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
The anti-graft agency said the documents formed the basis of the criminal charges filed against him.
Nnaji denied all the allegations when the charges were read to him and informed the court of his intention to contest the case during trial.
The arraignment follows weeks of legal proceedings between the former minister and the ICPC.
In June, a Federal High Court ordered his arrest after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning over the certificate forgery allegations.
The court also authorised the ICPC to declare him wanted before he was eventually arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on July 1 with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to a later date for the commencement of trial.
