Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has appealed a Federal High Court order directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest him over an alleged certificate forgery scandal.
It had earlier reported that the order was issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026 following an ex parte motion filed by the ICPC.
The anti-corruption agency told the court that the application was made after Nnaji allegedly refused to honour invitations to “investigative activities” on the allegations of certificate forgery.
The court also allowed ICPC to publish the name of the former minister as wanted in national newspapers, social media platforms or other avenues.
Nnaji has previously denied hiding or avoiding law enforcement, according to Premium Times.
In a statement, Robert Ngwu, Nnaji’s spokesperson, said, “We wish to state unequivocally that Chief Nnaji is not in hiding and has never evaded any law enforcement agency.
“We also wish to make it very clear that neither Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji nor his legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, have received any invitation, summons, warrant or correspondence whatsoever from the ICPC.”
Nnaji, in the notice of appeal filed before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on the 18th of June, expressed dissatisfaction with the “entire orders” of the lower court.
He said the Federal High Court “erred in law” in granting the orders without jurisdiction.
The former minister also challenged the use of electronic evidence alleged to have been tendered by the ICPC insisting that the court did not comply with Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Ex-minister moves court against arrest order
He further argued that the lower court relied on “unsubstantiated facts” in granting the ex parte orders.
He argued, “There was nothing before the lower court establishing that the telephone numbers and email addresses to which the referenced messages/texts were purportedly directed belonged to the appellant.
“There was nothing before the lower court showing any reply to any of the messages/texts purportedly sent to the numbers and email address contained therein.”
He urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the order for his arrest and dismiss the ICPC’s suit. Nnaji also filed a motion to stay the execution of the order of arrest pending the determination of his appeal.
He said enforcing the order would keep him “out of circulation” and prevent him from continuing campaign activities ahead of the election.
The former minister said denial of his application would not only affect him but also “the Nigerian democratic process, which is based on freedom of participation and choice of the electorate.
