The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has lastly launched a search for a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over his certificates forgery scandal.
The ICPC has been investigating Mr Nnaji’s forgery scandal.
Insiders had instructed this newspaper that the previous minister might be prosecuted if the investigation confirmed that he actually solid his credentials.
The ICPC’s investigation adopted a painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in October final 12 months, which revealed that the then-minister solid his UNN diploma and NYSC certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate throughout his ministerial affirmation in 2023.
An insider stated the anti-graft company has now superior its investigation into the forgery scandal towards the previous minister.
Search
Reliable sources aware of the event instructed PREMIUM TIMES that the ICPC’s manhunt for Mr Nnaji adopted the previous minister’s failure to honour invites issued by the anti-graft company relating to his forgery scandal.
An insider, who requested to not be named as a result of he was not permitted to talk on the matter, stated the UNN administration had responded to the ICPC’s enquiries relating to the continued probe, and the previous minister had been repeatedly invited for interrogation.
He stated the ICPC had prolonged invites to Mr Nnaji through WhatsApp, e-mail, and telephone for scheduled interrogations, however the former minister has failed to point out up.
“The ICPC is looking for him everywhere to possibly arrest him, and if we can’t find him, we will most likely declare him wanted,” the supply instructed PREMIUM TIMES.
Immunity from prison prosecution
Another supply knowledgeable PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Nnaji’s refusal to honour ICPC invites prolonged to him was primarily based on his technique to proceed hiding within the hope of having fun with immunity from prison prosecution if he wins the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the previous minister quietly moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), below which he unsuccessfully contested the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State.
In late May, Mr Nnaji emerged because the governorship candidate of the Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction forward of the 2027 basic election.
This newspaper earlier exclusively reported that Mr Nnaji was determined to turn out to be governor, amongst different causes, to get pleasure from immunity from prosecution if he wins the governorship ballot.
Uche Nnaji’s silence
Robert Ngwu, the particular adviser on media to Mr Nnaji, didn’t reply to a number of calls from PREMIUM TIMES looking for his feedback since Monday.
Mr Ngwu obtained and browse an enquiry forwarded to him through WhatsApp on Monday, however had but to reply as of Tuesday morning.
Background
In October 2023, PREMIUM TIMES started investigating Mr Nnaji’s educational data.
The then-minister had submitted a level and NYSC certificates to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate throughout his ministerial affirmation in 2023.
He claimed he obtained a level certificates from UNN, the place he purportedly graduated in 1985.
Apparently disturbed by the scrutiny, Mr Nnaji filed a swimsuit on the Federal High Court in Abuja to dam each UNN and its vice-chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, a professor, from releasing his educational data.
Apart from the UNN and its vice-chancellor, the minister of training, the National Universities Commission, the college’s registrar, its former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Oguejiofor Ujam, a professor, and the Senate of the college had been listed as defendants within the swimsuit.
However, the politician, by way of his authorized group, not too long ago utilized for an out-of-court settlement.
Before the then-minister may receive an injunction from the courtroom, Mr Ortuanya had responded to PREMIUM TIMES’ Freedom of Information (FOI) letter, confirming that Mr Nnaji had solid his UNN diploma certificates.
The UNN registrar would shortly thereafter corroborate Mr Ortuanya’s place, stating that though Mr Nnaji was admitted to the college in 1981, he neither graduated nor obtained any certificates.
In response to a separate FOI letter from PREMIUM TIMES, NYSC authorities disowned the discharge certificates the previous minister possessed.
Mr Nnaji resigned as minister three days after this newspaper revealed the investigation exposing his solid diploma and NYSC certificates.
Many Nigerians had referred to as for Mr Nnaji’s prosecution, sustaining that his resignation was insufficient given his violations of assorted Nigerian legal guidelines, together with the Criminal Code Act.
Earlier this 12 months, a authorized practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, criticised the Nigerian authorities for failing to prosecute Mr Nnaji over the certificates forgery scandal, sustaining that folks like the previous minister “should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others.”
Meanwhile, in March, this newspaper additionally exclusively reported that an investigative panel arrange by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, discovered that Mr Nnaji certainly solid his diploma and NYSC certificates.