Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was on Wednesday arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
Security sources said the former minister was intercepted in the early hours of the day as he was about to board a private jet to Abuja.
According to the sources, the arrest followed a request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is investigating petitions alleging irregularities during Nnaji's tenure as minister.
Following his arrest, the DSS reportedly transferred him to the custody of the anti-corruption agency for further questioning.
"The DSS acted on the request of the ICPC. He was arrested while preparing to board a private aircraft to Abuja and was subsequently handed over to the commission," a security source familiar with the operation said.
Another source disclosed that the ICPC had issued several invitations to the former minister over petitions concerning the administration of the Ministry of Science and Technology but alleged that he did not honour them, prompting the commission to seek the intervention of the DSS.
Nnaji stepped down as Minister of Science and Technology in October last year.
The former minister is also a prominent figure in Enugu State politics. He is seeking to become the People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election and emerged as the candidate of one faction of the party following a disputed primary. His political ambition has placed him in opposition to Governor Peter Mbah, who leads another camp within the state's PDP.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the ICPC had released an official statement on the arrest. The former minister had also not commented on the allegations.
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