A review of Nigeria’s laws shows that former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji could face between 47 and 57 years in prison if he is convicted on the certificate forgery and money laundering charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC arraigned Nnaji before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 13 on a six-count charge. His trial has been adjourned until September 21.
The charges followed his arrest on July 1 after a two-year investigation. The investigation alleged that he forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, which were submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023.
According to the charge sheet, the first count accuses Nnaji of receiving about ₦29.5 million in salaries while serving as minister, knowing the money was linked to an unlawful act. Under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the offence carries a prison term of between four and 14 years, a fine of at least five times the value of the proceeds, or both.
The second count alleges that he used his office to grant himself an unfair advantage, contrary to the ICPC Act. If convicted, he faces five years in prison without the option of a fine.
The third and fourth counts accuse him of presenting false NYSC and university certificates to the government during his appointment process. Each offence attracts a five-year prison sentence under the ICPC Act.
The fifth and sixth counts relate to forgery under the Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that he forged both the NYSC certificate and the university degree certificate and knowingly used them as genuine documents. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.
If convicted, the court will decide whether the sentences run at the same time or one after another. If they run concurrently, he could serve up to 14 years. If they run consecutively, he could face between 47 and 57 years behind bars, in addition to any fines imposed.
The ICPC has previously secured convictions under similar provisions of the law. In 2014, a former acting provost of the Federal College of Education, Technical, Gusau, was sentenced to five years in prison for collecting double duty tour allowances. More recently, a senior officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was convicted over job racketeering, while a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria staff member was convicted for using a forged trade test certificate to secure employment.
The case against Nnaji stems from investigations into his academic records. Although he claimed to have graduated from UNN in 1985, the university later confirmed that while he was admitted in 1981, he neither completed his studies nor received a degree certificate. The NYSC also stated that the discharge certificate he presented was not issued by the scheme.
Nnaji resigned as minister shortly after the investigation was published. A panel later set up by the Minister of Education also concluded that his certificates were forged.
He has since left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he emerged as a governorship candidate for the 2027 election under a Wike-backed faction. Reports have suggested he is seeking the office to benefit from constitutional immunity from prosecution, although he has not publicly admitted this.
The ICPC arrested him after obtaining a court order, despite his appeal challenging the legality of the arrest. He remains on trial.
