Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja when he arrived from Enugu in a chartered flight.
Nnaji is to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
The arrest is part of an ongoing ICPC investigation into allegations that the former minister forged his academic certificates.
In mid-June, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the anti-corruption agency leave to arrest Nnaji in connection with its investigation of the alleged certificate forgery. The court also empowered the commission to declare him wanted via national newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels. Papers
According to court documents, the ICPC sought the ex parte order after Nnaji allegedly failed to respond to several invitations extended to him to appear for questioning in relation to the investigation.
The commission told the court that it had repeatedly tried to get him to attend “investigative activities” but had failed, so it asked the court for permission to arrest him and declare him wanted.
Nnaji was arrested Wednesday upon arrival at the Abuja airport and is expected to be handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
As of the filing of this report, the ICPC has not issued any official statement on the arrest. Nnaji and his representatives also did not immediately respond to the allegations.