Uche Nnaji Gets Court Approval for Medical Trip as Forgery Trial Continues
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has secured permission from the Federal High Court in Abuja to travel abroad for medical treatment while his trial over alleged certificate forgery, false information and corruption continues.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the temporary release of Nnaji’s international passport following an application by his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ogwu Onoja.
The passport had earlier been deposited with the court as part of the bail conditions imposed on the former minister after his arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The court granted the application to enable Nnaji to undertake the medical trip and subsequently fixed October 26, 2026, for continuation of his trial.
Nnaji was arraigned before the Federal High Court on July 13 on a six-count charge involving allegations of certificate forgery, provision of false information and corrupt practices.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the ICPC, Nnaji allegedly received ₦29,578,466.67 in salaries and allowances between August 2023 and October 2025 while serving as minister. The anti-graft agency alleges that the money amounted to proceeds of unlawful acts under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The commission also alleges that the former minister used his public office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the payments.
Four other counts centre on academic credentials allegedly submitted during the process leading to his ministerial appointment.
The ICPC alleges that Nnaji presented a National Youth Service Corps certificate to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that the prosecution says was forged.
It further alleges that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry despite allegedly knowing the document was false.
These remain allegations before the court, and Nnaji has denied wrongdoing by entering a not-guilty plea.
Following his arraignment in July, Justice Abdulmalik granted Nnaji bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum.
The court stipulated that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
Nnaji was also directed to surrender his international passport and other travel documents to the court as part of his bail conditions.
Monday’s ruling therefore temporarily relaxes that restriction to allow the former minister to travel for medical treatment.
The development does not terminate or determine the criminal case against him, as the substantive trial remains pending before the Federal High Court.
Attention will now shift to October 26, when proceedings in the six-count case are scheduled to continue.
