Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja over alleged certificate forgery.

According to sources, the former minister was taken into custody on Wednesday before being handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.

The arrest follows a warrant issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja in June after the ICPC accused Nnaji of repeatedly failing to honour invitations related to its investigation into allegations that he forged his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.

The anti-graft agency had also sought the court’s approval to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media and other platforms if he continued to evade investigators.

Nnaji resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in October 2025 after allegations surfaced that he submitted forged educational credentials to the President, the Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the DSS during his ministerial screening and confirmation process.

Investigations had claimed that the former minister did not complete his university education and that both his bachelor’s degree and NYSC certificate were forged.

Despite the controversy, Nnaji emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Enugu State in May.