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By Our Correspondent
The camp of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law, urging the public to distinguish between ongoing civil proceedings, reported criminal charges and media narratives surrounding his legal matters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, Nnaji’s camp said recent media reports had generated widespread public misunderstanding by conflating separate legal proceedings and presenting incomplete accounts of matters pending before the courts.
The statement maintained that the objective was not to litigate the issues in the media but to clarify the legal position, place the facts in their proper context and reaffirm Nnaji’s confidence in the judicial process.
According to the statement, the principal case concerning Nnaji’s academic records is a civil suit pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It explained that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, was instituted by Nnaji himself to seek judicial clarification regarding his academic records and the release of his official university transcript, which he believes will confirm his graduation status.
The statement stressed that Nnaji was not charged with any offence in the matter, nor was he arraigned as a criminal defendant.
It disclosed that when the case came up before Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa on April 20, 2026, parties informed the court that efforts were being made to resolve the dispute amicably, leading to an adjournment for a report on settlement.
However, when the matter resumed on July 8, 2026, counsel informed the court that negotiations had failed, prompting the court to adjourn the suit until October 20, 2026, for definite hearing.
The statement insisted that the proceedings remain purely civil in nature and should not be portrayed as a criminal trial.
On reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had filed criminal charges against Nnaji, the statement said neither the former minister nor his legal team had, as of the time of its release, been formally served with any charge, hearing notice or notice of arraignment.
It added that once due service is effected, Nnaji would appear in court and exercise his constitutional right to defend himself.
While maintaining his innocence, the statement noted that the filing of criminal charges or an arraignment does not amount to a conviction, stressing that guilt can only be established after a full trial in which both prosecution and defence are heard.
The statement also revisited the earlier ex parte arrest warrant obtained by the ICPC, arguing that the order was based on the Commission’s allegation that Nnaji failed to honour invitations and was likely to abscond.
According to the statement, Nnaji disputes those allegations, insisting that no invitation was personally served on him at his known residential addresses in Abuja and Enugu or through his recognised email address.
It further maintained that he never went into hiding, noting that he remained active in public life by attending political meetings, consulting stakeholders, receiving visitors and granting media interviews during the period in question.
The statement described reports suggesting he was evading law enforcement agencies as inconsistent with the facts.
It added that Nnaji’s legal team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had challenged the ex parte order before the Court of Appeal by filing an appeal and an application for stay of execution, with the matter still pending.
The statement argued that an arrest warrant issued to compel attendance should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt, adding that criminal responsibility can only be determined after a full hearing before a competent court.
It further accused some media organisations of failing to distinguish between procedural court orders and judicial findings, thereby creating what it described as the false impression that the issuance of an arrest warrant amounted to proof of forgery.
Reaffirming Nnaji’s commitment to due process, the statement said the former minister had never absconded from any lawful judicial process and remained confident that all issues raised against him would be resolved through evidence presented before the courts.
It also noted that he voluntarily resigned from office as minister to focus on clearing his name through the judicial process.
The statement urged the media and the public to distinguish between civil and criminal proceedings, allegations and proven facts, arraignment and conviction, as well as media reports and judicial findings.
It concluded by reiterating that every Nigerian is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, expressing confidence that “the truth will prevail.”
