The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the release of the international passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the order on Monday after counsel to the former minister, Ogwu Onoja, moved an application seeking the release of the passport for the medical trip.
In a brief ruling, the judge granted the application and directed that Nnaji’s international passport be released to him.
The court also adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Nnaji is facing a six-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information, corruption and related offences.
He was arraigned before Justice Abdulmalik on July 13, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the charge, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 in salary and allowances through his bank account.
The commission described the money as proceeds of unlawful acts, alleging that its receipt contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency also accused Nnaji of using his position as minister to confer a corrupt advantage on himself through the receipt of the said salary and allowances, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The remaining counts relate to allegations that Nnaji submitted and used forged credentials during the process of his appointment as minister.
The ICPC specifically alleged that he presented a purported National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during his documentation.
The commission also alleged that Nnaji submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing certificate number 004501, which it described as false.
The prosecution alleged that Nnaji knowingly used both documents as genuine despite being aware that they were forged. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
At his arraignment in July, the court granted Nnaji bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum.
Justice Abdulmalik directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.
The surety was also required to provide evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the preceding three months, while the relevant government authority was directed to verify the surety’s employment status.
As part of the bail conditions, the court had earlier ordered Nnaji to surrender his international passport and any other travel documents in his possession.
With Monday’s ruling, the court has now temporarily released the passport to allow the former minister travel abroad for medical treatment, while the criminal proceedings remain ongoing.