A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (https://icpc.gov.ng/) (ICPC) to arrest a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over certificate forgery.
The court gave the ruling on Thursday following an ex parte motion by the ICPC in suit number marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.
The commission, through David Nelson, deposed an affidavit in support of the ex parte motion and also filed a written address in the court’s registry.
Mr Nnaji was listed as the sole defendant while the federal government, represented by the ICPC, is the sole applicant in the suit.
The ICPC, through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the ex parte motion was in response to Mr Nnaji’s failure to honour invitations extended to him by the commission for “investigative activities” over certificate forgery.
The ICPC asked the court to issue an order allowing the commission to declare Mr Nnaji wanted in any national newspaper, social media platforms or other medium for “failing to honour the commission’s invitations for investigation activities.”
The anti-graft agency also asked the court to give an order issuing a bench/warrant of arrest, directing operatives of the commission or other enforcement agents including private citizens to identify and arrest Mr Nnaji and hand him over to the commission for the purpose of investigation.
It also appealed to the court to grant any orders as it might deem fit in the circumstances.
In its ruling, the court granted an order allowing the ICPC to declare Mr Nnaji wanted in any national newspaper, social media platforms or other medium.
The court also gave an order issuing a bench/warrant of arrest, directing operatives of the ICPC or other enforcement agents including private citizens to identify and arrest Mr Nnaji and hand him over to the commission for the purpose of investigation.
It further ruled that the order would elapse only upon the arrest of Mr Nnaji.
A copy of the court’s warrant of arrest issued against Mr Nnaji was exclusively obtained on Friday.
The court document showed that Mr Nnaji is being investigated by the ICPC for alleged forgery, abuse of office, conferment of unfair advantage while being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ICPC is expected to arraign the former minister upon his arrest for the alleged offences.
The commission has been investigating Mr Nnaji’s forgery
scandal.
Last week, reports says the anti-graft agency
launched a man hunt for the former minister over the certificate forgery.
