Nnaji was taken into custody on Wednesday, July 1, shortly after arriving from Enugu aboard a chartered flight, according to Premium Times. He is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning.
The arrest follows a Federal High Court order issued in June authorising the ICPC to arrest the former minister as part of its investigation into allegations that he forged academic credentials submitted during his ministerial appointment process.
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The anti-graft agency had informed the court that it sought the order after Nnaji allegedly failed to honour several invitations extended to him for questioning over the allegations. The court also granted the commission leave to declare him wanted through national newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels pending his arrest.
The allegations stem from an investigation claiming that Nnaji submitted forged degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. The documents were allegedly presented to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service as part of the screening process.
On June 13, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the ICPC’s ex parte application for a warrant of arrest and authorised the commission to declare the former minister wanted pending his apprehension. The court held that the warrant would remain in force until Nnaji was arrested and handed over to the commission for investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had yet to issue an official statement on the arrest. Nnaji is expected to be questioned by the commission as investigations continue.
