By Dapo Akinrefon
A coalition of civil society leaders and organisations, on Friday, accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, of allegedly carrying out a politically motivated campaign against former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, describing his arrest and continued detention as a “political witch-hunt” allegedly aimed at frustrating his political aspirations ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
Speaking at a world press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, National Secretariat in Abuja, the coalition alleged that the ongoing certificate forgery case involving Nnaji had been manipulated for political purposes.
In a joint statement by Mr Kennedy Iyere and other civil society leaders, accused a some government officials of orchestrating what it described as a coordinated effort to destroy Nnaji’s political career.
The organisations, however, did not present documentary evidence at the briefing to substantiate the allegations.
The coalition said: “It is painful that the ICPC, its Chairman and some online media platforms have become part of the actors acting out this funny script. “As CSO groups, we have resolved to carry out thorough investigations and will shock the world with our findings.”
The CSOs insisted that Nnaji’s detention was politically motivated rather than based on genuine anti-corruption concerns.
“Based on the available facts, it is very clear that the arrest and continued detention of Chief Uche Nnaji by the ICPC is a pure case of biased political witch-hunt,” the statement read.
The coalition further alleged that the detention was being orchestrated “to destroy the political career and ambition of Nnaji.”
The groups also argued that because the certificate forgery case is before a competent court, public comments capable of influencing judicial proceedings should be avoided.
“The case of certificate forgery against Chief Nnaji by the UNN is sub judice. Judgment is yet to be delivered, and unguided public comments capable of influencing the outcome or prejudicing a fair trial must be restricted,” the coalition stated.
It alleged that the anti-graft agency had violated that principle by making public statements concerning the matter.
“What the ICPC has done to Chief Uche Nnaji by already condemning him publicly, as a certificate forger over a trial yet to be concluded by the court, is unfair and indeed a violation of his right of self-defence and fair hearing,” the statement added.
The coalition also criticised Nnaji’s continued detention, arguing that it was unlawful and politically calculated.
“We condemn in totality the continued unlawful detention of Chief Nnaji by the ICPC. As a lawyer, he ought to know that his actions are unlawful and capable of compelling public agitations and widespread protests.
“By their continued arrest and detention of Nnaji, the ICPC and its Chairman are directly and indirectly provoking public outrage and widespread anti-government protests.”
Demanding Nnaji’s immediate release, the coalition said: “We are issuing strict warnings to the ICPC and its Chairman, demanding that they, as a matter of urgency, release Chief Nnaji and stop endangering the country’s already fragile political stability.”
The coalition further warned that failure to release Nnaji before the close of business on Friday would trigger nationwide demonstrations.
“If Chief Uche Nnaji is not released before the close of work today, Friday, July 10, 2026, we shall massively mobilise our youths to hit the streets in protest against this act of injustice,” the statement declared.
Alleging that the detention was intended to prevent Nnaji from participating in the 2027 governorship election, the coalition said: “The ICPC and its Chairman are keeping him to intimidate him enough to withdraw from the 2027 Enugu governorship contest.
“They want to keep him till after INEC’s deadline for the submission and upload of candidates’ documents. But this injustice cannot stand because we have resolved to reverse the trend.
“We have decided to file a lawsuit against the ICPC for what we consider gross professional misconduct.”
The coalition warned that if its demands were ignored, it would sustain nationwide protests until what it described as justice was achieved.
