A former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the Department of State Services at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Security sources revealed that Nnaji was taken into custody in the early hours of the day while he was preparing to board a private jet heading to Abuja, according to The PUNCH.
The sources said the arrest was executed by the DSS following a request from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is currently investigating the former minister over allegations levelled against him.
According to the sources, after his arrest, Nnaji was transferred to the ICPC for further questioning and investigation.
“The DSS acted on the request of the ICPC. He was arrested at the Enugu airport while preparing to board a private jet to Abuja and has since been handed over to the commission,” one of the sources said.
The sources also stated that the anti-corruption agency had earlier invited the former minister several times over petitions bordering on alleged irregularities in the administration of the Ministry of Science and Technology during his tenure.
“They had extended several invitations to him following petitions relating to the management of the ministry. When he failed to honour the invitations, the ICPC sought the assistance of the DSS to effect his arrest,” another source disclosed.
Nnaji resigned from his position as Minister of Science and Technology in October last year, following developments that attracted significant public interest.
At the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the ICPC had released an official statement regarding the arrest, while the former minister had not made any public comment on the allegations.
Efforts to reach the ICPC spokesperson, John Odeh, were unsuccessful as calls placed to him were not answered.
