The Department of State Services (DSS) took former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, into custody on Wednesday morning at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
The arrest occurred as Nnaji prepared to depart for Abuja via a private jet.
Security insiders indicated that the operation was executed by the DSS at the behest of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The former official is facing allegations concerning certificate forgery and has been transferred to the anti-graft commission for further investigation.
Reports suggest the ICPC sought assistance from the DSS to secure Nnaji’s presence after he reportedly failed to honor multiple invitations regarding the management of his former ministry.
Nnaji previously stepped down from his ministerial post on October 7, 2025, amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding his credentials from the University of Nigeria (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
At the time of his resignation, he stated that the move was “not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process” regarding judicial proceedings.
Following his exit, Nnaji dismissed the claims as politically motivated.
In November 2025, he initiated a legal challenge at the Federal High Court, demanding that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, provide his official academic transcripts.
He maintained that his student records were held within the unit designated for the 1985 graduating class and that the institution’s failure to produce the documents caused undue delay.
The situation has gained further political significance as Nnaji has since become the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 Enugu State gubernatorial election.
