‎Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has pleaded not guilty to allegations of forging his university degree and his NYSC discharge certificate brought against him by the federal government.

‎The former Minister, who was charged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

‎Nnaji is facing six counts of forging a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The charges further covered claims of receiving approximately N29.5 million in salary and emoluments under false pretenses, as well as money laundering allegations

After his plea of not guilty on Monday, the prosecutor informed the court that he was ready to proceed to trial, with three witnesses available in the courtroom already.

‎Ogwu Onoja, SAN, counsel for the defendant pleaded for more time to prepare for trial and informed the court of a pending application for bail filed on 9 July. The prosecutor did not oppose to the application for bail.

‎In a short ruling, the trial judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20million with one surety who must not be below level 15 in the Federal civil service. The surety must be residing in Abuja. Other terms of bail include that Nnaji deposits his official and personal passports.

‎Nnaji being charged to court follows months of investigation questioning the authenticity of his documents. Both UNN and the NYSC have reportedly disowned the certificates in question.

‎He was arrested on June 30, 2026, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his arrival from Enugu.

‎The arrest was executed following a Federal High Court order issued on June 11, 2026, after he allegedly failed to honor multiple invitations for investigative interviews.

‎Nnaji resigned from his ministerial position on October 7, 2025, describing the move as a “principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process” amid ongoing judicial proceedings, and denying any wrongdoing. He has previously described elements of the case as politically motivated.

‎The defendant is the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Enugu State.

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Law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the university’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, accusing the institution of abandoning them and failing to mobilise them for admission into the Nigerian Law School despite years of completing their academic programmes.

The protesters, who carried placards and banners with various inscriptions demanding justice on Friday, called for their immediate admission into the Nigerian Law School, alleging that the university’s failure to carry out its administrative responsibilities has left hundreds of graduates stranded between 2019 and 2026.

Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the National President of the NOUN Law Graduates, Adefowora Adedeji, accused the university’s management of compromising their future and playing politics with the lives of graduates who have fulfilled all academic and administrative requirements.

According to him, the graduates had exhausted all official channels by writing several letters and complying with every administrative procedure, but the university authorities failed to perform their duty of mobilising them to the Nigerian Law School.

“We are law graduates of this university. They have abandoned us,” he said.”From 2019 to 2026, they refused to do their job. Their job is to ensure that we are mobilized to the Nigerian Law School. They abandoned us.

NOUN GRADUATES

“Professor Olufemi Peters, when he was doing his tenure, he told us that he would solve our problem. He refused to solve our problem. The new vice-chancellor, who is supposed to solve it, instead of solving it, they are playing politics with our lives.

“Many of our law graduates have died in the process, and that is why we are here to express our grievances. We are here because we want to put an end to administrative impunity and administrative arbitrariness. We want to stop this.

“We are not happy because we are not mobilised to the Nigerian Law School.”

The protesters insisted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had accredited the university’s law programme, questioning why graduates are still being denied admission into the Nigerian Law School.

Adedeji further accused the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ndige, of applying double standards by approving admission for previous sets of NOU law graduates while allegedly rejecting the current batch.

“I am the National President of the NOUN Law Graduates. What we are saying is that under the National Universities Commission (NUC), they have accredited our law programme,” he said.

“And then, Chief Emeka Ndige, SAN, who is the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, said our mode of education is not recognized. The same chairman gave our seniors, about 1,200 law graduates, admission into the Nigerian Law School. The same man is now rejecting us.

“Many of us are master’s degree holders. Many of us have PhDs in law, and yet they don’t want to accept us into the Nigerian Law School.”

He said the protest was aimed at exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, citing Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are here to express our constitutional rights. Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says there is freedom of peaceful assembly, peaceful procession and association,” he said.

“Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of expression.”

One suspected attacker was killed Wednesday night by security operatives at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.

The development comes barely two weeks after armed men attacked the institute, killing three security operatives.

The assailants were said to have targeted the residences of the Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman-Mann and a Directing Staff, Professor Haruna Dabin.

However, confirming the latest attack, NIPSS Head of Public Affairs, Dr Osime Samuel, explained that the security operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel, thereby forcing them to retreat.

“The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru wishes to inform the public that another attempt by unidentified armed assailants to breach the Institute’s security perimeter was successfully repelled by security personnel late yesterday night, Wednesday, 1 July 2026.”

“The attackers engaged security operatives in a gun duel, but were forced to retreat following the swift and coordinated response of the security forces. One of the assailants was neutralised during the encounter, while others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

“The Institute is pleased to report that there was no breach of the security perimeter. All participants, staff, residents and Institute facilities remain safe and secure.

“Security agencies have intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while surveillance and other proactive security measures have been further strengthened within and around the Institute.

“The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies reassures participants, staff, their families and the general public that the security of lives and property remains its highest priority.

“The Institute appreciates the prompt response and professionalism of the security agencies and urges the public to disregard any misinformation capable of causing anxiety,” the statement read.