According to Premium Times, the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was taken into custody by state operatives at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. The high-profile arrest occurred on Wednesday just as the former cabinet member was preparing to board a private chartered flight destined for Abuja.
The sudden interception follows months of discrete surveillance and investigative tracing by anti-graft institutions. The core of the state’s case centers on allegations of fraudulent academic credential presentations, which initially sparked a quiet exit from public office during the prior year’s administrative shakeup.
Arrangements are being finalized to hand the former minister directly over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for extensive interrogation. Legal experts suggest this represents one of the most high-profile anti-corruption actions against an immediate past administration official this year.
Validating the explosive arrest, Daily Post provided immediate updates from the scene, stating that “eyewitnesses watched airport security coordinate with federal agents to intercept the former official before tarmac boarding.” Meanwhile, Vanguard reported extensively on the legal background of the investigation, noting that “investigators have reportedly established a prima facie case linking the suspect to systematic falsification of higher education documentation used during federal screening.”
Echotitbits take: The arrest of Nnaji sends a strong, unambiguous signal to the political class that administrative immunity expires the moment office terms conclude. Beyond the sensational nature of credential fraud, this development serves as an indicator of a revitalized anti-corruption push. The public will closely observe whether the ICPC follows through with a swift, transparent prosecution or if the case dissolves into political maneuvering.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/892076-breaking-former-minister-uche-nnaji-arrested-over-certificate-forgery-scandal.html, July 1, 2026
Photo credit: Premium Times
