Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, on July 13, 2026 appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he was formally arraigned on a six-count charge brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
At the arraignment, Chief Nnaji pleaded not guilty to all six counts, unequivocally maintaining his innocence and indicating his readiness to defend himself through the judicial process.
Following submissions by counsel, the Honourable Court admitted Chief Nnaji to bail on conditions set by the Court and adjourned the matter until 21 September 2026 for the commencement of trial.
Chief Nnaji welcomes the opportunity to have his day in court.
From the outset, he has maintained that the proper place to determine these allegations is before a court of law—not in the media or the court of public opinion. He remains fully committed to the judicial process and has every confidence that the facts and evidence will ultimately vindicate him.
It is important to emphasize that today’s proceedings were only an arraignment. Under Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, every person charged with an offence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. An arraignment is not a conviction, nor should the filing of allegations be mistaken for proof of wrongdoing.
Chief Nnaji has lived a life of public service spanning several decades. Throughout that period, he has built a reputation founded on integrity, hard work and service to Nigeria. He considers his name and reputation to be among his most valuable assets—not only because they belong to him, but because they are shared by his family, his children, generations before him, and generations yet unborn.
For that reason, he is determined to vigorously defend his integrity and clear his name through the legal process.
Chief Nnaji also expresses profound appreciation to the countless Nigerians, friends, associates, political leaders, supporters and well-wishers from across the country and beyond who have continued to stand by him, pray for him and express confidence in his integrity throughout this period.
He respectfully urges the public to allow the judicial process to run its full course and to refrain from drawing conclusions based solely on allegations that are yet to be tested in court.
Chief Nnaji remains steadfast in his belief that justice is best served through due process, fairness and respect for the rule of law. He will continue to cooperate fully with the Court and is confident that, at the conclusion of these proceedings, the truth will prevail.
Signed:
Dr. Robert Ngwu
Spokesperson to Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji
