The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly launched a search for a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over an alleged certificate forgery scandal.
The anti-graft agency has been investigating allegations that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The certificates were reportedly submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
The ICPC investigation followed a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year.
The report alleged that the former minister forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates.
Sources within the commission who spoke with Premium Times had earlier said Nnaji could be prosecuted if the investigation established that the credentials were forged.
Reliable sources familiar with the development said the ICPC’s search for Nnaji followed his alleged failure to honour invitations from the agency.
An insider, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the management of UNN had responded to ICPC’s enquiries regarding the ongoing probe.
The source added that the former minister had been repeatedly invited to be interrogated.
According to the source, the commission sent invitations to Nnaji through WhatsApp, email and phone calls for scheduled interrogations, but he failed to appear.
“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.
Another source claimed that Nnaji’s refusal to honour the invitations was part of a strategy to remain unavailable while seeking to contest the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
The source alleged that the former minister hoped to benefit from immunity from criminal prosecution if he won the election.
Nnaji was said to have quietly moved from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after unsuccessfully contesting the 2023 Enugu governorship election on the APC platform.
In late May, Nnaji reportedly emerged as the governorship candidate of a PDP faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general election.
He was also reported to be interested in becoming governor, partly to enjoy immunity from prosecution if elected.
The ICPC has yet to publicly announce whether it will declare the former minister wanted.
