Mr Nnaji had denied reports that the ICPC earlier invited him for questioning as part of the ongoing probe of his certificate forgery scandal.
A former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, ignored multiple invitations extended to him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for ongoing investigations into his certificate forgery scandal, PREMIUM TIMES reports.
The ICPC’s investigation followed a painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October last year, which revealed that the then-minister forged his UNN degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
On 9 June, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that the ICPC had launched a manhunt for Mr Nnaji after the former minister failed to honour invitations extended to him by the anti-graft agency regarding his forgery scandal.
This newspaper also exclusively reported in mid-June that a federal high court in Abuja ordered the ICPC to arrest Mr Nnaji for investigation into his certificate forgery scandal following his repeated failures to honour the agency’s invitation.
Even before PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that the federal court ordered his arrest, Mr Nnaji, popularly known as Nwakaibeya, had claimed that the ICPC was never looking for him and falsely accused the Enugu State Government of sponsoring “the lies” against him.
“I have never seen a government in my life that everything is based on lies like the present government in Enugu State,” he began.
“They are either saying Nwakaibie has a certificate problem or they say the ICPC (has launched a manhunt for me.) Is it not me here? Where is the ICPC?” the former minister said, suggesting that his reported manhunt by the ICPC was false.
He spoke with reporters in early June at Akanu-Ibiam International Airport Emene in Enugu.
Arise News TV, a Lagos State-based television station, also aired a news broadcast in which the former minister made the claims.
But documents and reliable information obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed that contrary to his claims, Mr Nnaji rebuffed ICPC invitations and failed to show up for scheduled interview sessions regarding his forgery scandal.
This newspaper, for instance, exclusively obtained a copy of an invitation letter extended to Mr Nnaji by the ICPC.
The letter was dated 15 May and signed by the Head of Chairman’s Special Task Force of the ICPC, Usman Ahmed.
It was addressed to Mr Nnaji and titled, “Investigation Activities/Notice of Invitation.”
The ICPC, in the letter, told the former minister that the agency was investigating an alleged violation of the provisions of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act 2000 in which his name “featured prominently.”
“Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 28 of the aforementioned Act, you are requested to report for an interview with the undersigned through the Team Leader with phone number 08063642*** at the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja on 20th May, 2026 by 10 a.m.,” the letter read in part.
PREMIUM TIMES also sighted a communication which showed that the anti-graft agency forwarded the invitation letter to Mr Nnaji via at least two of his WhatsApp numbers and email address.
The invitation letter was forwarded to Mr Nnaji’s known WhatsApp numbers on 16 May which he received, while the same letter was sent to his email address the following day.
The ICPC sent him a reminder via a text message on 19 May ahead of the scheduled interview the following day.
The commission explained to the former minister in the communications that they forwarded the letters to his WhatsApp numbers, email and a reminder via a text message because his address was unknown and he did not respond to phone calls regarding the invitation.
“This became necessary, and as the only available means of inviting you at the moment because we are unable to get your current home address and have no office address to send the invitation following your resignation as a minister,” the ICPC told Mr Nnaji in a communication sighted by PREMIUM TIMES.
“Treat it as very important, please. This message can serve as an additional invitation, please.”
But he failed to honour the scheduled interview on 20 May.
The ICPC then rescheduled the interview for 3 June and communicated to Mr Nnaji, urging him to honour the commission’s invitation in the interest of fair hearing.
“The invitation date has been rescheduled to Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 by 10 a.m. You are advised to honour this invitation in the interest of justice and fair hearing,” the commission told the former minister in the communication.
But the former minister also failed to show up on the rescheduled date.
Insiders told PREMIUM TIMES that the ICPC, displeased by Mr Nnaji’s repeated failures to honour their invitations, then approached the Federal High Court in Abuja which ordered the arrest of the former minister for investigation.
PREMIUM TIMES began investigating Mr Nnaji’s academic records in October 2023.
The then-minister had submitted a degree and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.
He claimed he obtained a degree certificate from UNN, where he purportedly graduated in 1985.
