Former Minister Uche Nnaji Nabbed by DSS While Boarding Private Jet as ICPC Tightens Corruption Probe.

A dramatic scene unfolded at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on Wednesday after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, just moments before he boarded a private jet to Abuja. The arrest, reportedly carried out on the request of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), marks a major twist in an ongoing corruption investigation linked to allegations of irregularities during his time in office.

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, Enugu, in what has become the latest high-profile anti-corruption operation involving a former member of the Federal Executive Council.

According to security sources, the former minister was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday while preparing to board a private jet bound for Abuja. The operation was reportedly executed by the DSS following a formal request from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is investigating allegations surrounding the management of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology during Nnaji's tenure.

Sources familiar with the development disclosed that immediately after his arrest, the former minister was handed over to officials of the ICPC for further interrogation and investigation.

A security source said the DSS merely acted on the request of the anti-graft agency.

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, the source revealed.

Further details indicate that the ICPC had reportedly invited Nnaji on several occasions to respond to petitions alleging financial and administrative irregularities in the ministry while he served as minister. However, the former minister allegedly failed to honour the invitations, prompting the commission to seek the assistance of the DSS in securing his arrest.

Another source familiar with the investigation stated that the petitions under review relate to the management of public funds and other activities carried out during Nnaji's administration of the ministry.

«"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," the source disclosed.»

The arrest has attracted widespread attention given Nnaji's resignation from office in October last year, a move that generated considerable public and political interest at the time. Although the circumstances surrounding his exit sparked speculation, no official link was made between his resignation and the ongoing investigation.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Department of State Services nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had issued an official statement confirming the arrest or providing details of the allegations under investigation.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the ICPC were unsuccessful, as calls placed to the commission's spokesperson, John Odeh, were not answered. Likewise, Uche Nnaji had yet to issue any public statement or respond to the allegations surrounding his arrest.

The development is expected to fuel public interest as Nigerians await an official explanation from the anti-corruption agency regarding the nature of the allegations and the next steps in the investigation.