The 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 to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order during Monday’s proceedings after a motion filed by Nnaji’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, was presented before the court.
In a brief ruling, the judge granted the application and ordered that the former minister’s passport be released. The court also fixed October 26 for the continuation of the trial.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on July 13 arraigned Nnaji on a six-count charge involving alleged certificate forgery, false information and corruption.
Nnaji pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the prosecution, between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as a minister, Nnaji allegedly received ₦29,578,466.67 through a bank account as salary and allowances.
The ICPC described the money as “proceeds of unlawful acts, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The second count alleges that Nnaji used his position as minister to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same amount as salary and allowances, contrary to provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining four counts concern allegations of certificate forgery and the submission and use of documents the prosecution says were false.
The ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his appointment as a minister.
The commission also alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.
The prosecution further accused Nnaji of presenting and using the alleged NYSC and UNN certificates as genuine despite allegedly knowing that they were forged. The charges were brought under Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
After the charges were read and Nnaji entered his plea, his lawyer informed the court that he had also filed an application seeking bail for his client.
ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the prosecution was ready to begin the trial and had three witnesses available to testify. He, however, did not oppose the bail application and left the matter to the discretion of the court.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted Nnaji bail in the sum of ₦20 million, with one surety in the same amount.
The court directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must have maintained a fixed residential address for at least four years.
The surety was also ordered to provide employment documents, including a letter of appointment and salary slips covering the previous three months.
The court further directed that the relevant government authority be contacted to verify the surety’s employment status.
As part of the bail conditions, Justice Abdulmalik had earlier ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and any other travel documents in his possession with the court. The latest ruling releases the passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The former minister remains on trial over the allegations, which he has denied by pleading not guilty.
