At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on Wednesday, Department of State Services personnel detained Uche Nnaji, a former Minister of Science and Technology.

Nnaji was arrested early on Wednesday while trying to board a private aircraft headed for Abuja, according to security sources.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, which is looking into the former minister due to certain accusations, reportedly requested that the DSS make the arrest.

According to the sources, Nnaji was turned over to the ICPC for additional investigation after his arrest.

“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 disclosed that the former minister had been invited multiple times by the anti-graft agency in relation to petitions alleging anomalies in the Ministry of Science and Technology's management during his term.

“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.

In October of last year, Nnaji resigned as Minister of Science and Technology due to events that attracted media attention.

The former minister has not yet responded to the accusations, and neither the DSS nor the ICPC had released an official statement regarding the arrest as of the time this article was filed.

As of the time this story was filed, John Odeh, the spokesperson for the ICPC, had not returned calls.

Source