Proceedings in a suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and other respondents were on Thursday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The matter, which came up before Justice Hauwa Yilwa, was adjourned to April 20 to allow parties regularise their court processes. The adjournment followed an oral application by Chiamaka Anagwu, who appeared for UNN and four other defendants, seeking time to put their documentation in order.
Counsel to Nnaji did not oppose the application. Also present in court was National Universities Commission, represented by Sebastian and N H Oba. Justice Yilwa consequently adjourned the case and ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the Minister of Education, who was not represented at the sitting.
The suit followed allegations of certificate forgery levelled against Nnaji. In an ex parte application, the former minister sought leave to issue prerogative writs restraining UNN and its officials from tampering with or continuing to tamper with his academic records. The case is marked FHC ABJ CS 1909 2025.
Nnaji listed the Minister of Education, the NUC, UNN and Charles Ortuanya as respondents. He also joined the Registrar of UNN, Ujam, and the Senate of the university as additional respondents.
He further sought an order of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to ensure compliance. An interim injunction restraining UNN from interfering with his records pending the determination of the substantive suit was also requested.
In response, the third to seventh defendants filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court. They argued that the action was statute barred, having not been filed within three months as required by the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules and the Public Officers Protection Act. They also contended that the suit was procedurally defective and that issues relating to student academic records fall outside the court’s jurisdiction.
The defendants urged the court to strike out the suit and award substantial costs in their favour. The matter will now be heard on April 20
