Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of alleged certificate forgery, obtaining salaries under false pretences and money laundering.

Arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nnaji is accused of forging a University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023. He is also alleged to have received about ₦29.5 million in salaries and emoluments unlawfully.

The court granted him bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety who must be a Federal Civil Service officer not below Grade Level 15 and resident in Abuja. He was also ordered to surrender his official and international passports.

Nnaji was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 30 after allegedly failing to honour multiple invitations for questioning. He has denied the allegations, insisting they are politically motivated.