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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of the international passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the order yesterday after counsel to Nnaji, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, moved an application seeking the release of the travel document.
In a short ruling, the judge granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Nnaji, 63, is standing trial on a six-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/391/2026, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He was arraigned on July 13 and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received N29,578,466.67 in salary and allowances through a bank account.
The commission described the money as “proceeds of unlawful acts” under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused Nnaji of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same sum, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts concern alleged certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents.
The ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during documentation for his appointment as minister.
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It further alleged that he submitted a University of Nigeria, Nsukka, degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.
The prosecution also accused him of making and using both certificates as genuine despite allegedly knowing that they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
Following his arraignment, Onoja informed the court that he had filed a bail application.
Prosecution counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the ICPC was ready to proceed with the trial and had three witnesses lined up. He, however, said the prosecution would not oppose bail, leaving the matter to the discretion of the court.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted Nnaji to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.
The surety, according to the court, must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 who has maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
The judge also directed the surety to produce evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the preceding three months.
She further ordered the relevant government authority to be notified for verification of the surety’s employment status.
As part of the bail conditions, the court had earlier ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court.
The passport has now been released to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
