Federal High Court adjourns Uche Nnaji suit against UNN and others to April 20 for lawyers to regularise processes
The Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and several university officials on Thursday.
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Justice Hauwa Yilwa fixed the matter for April 20 to allow lawyers to regularise their processes.
The development followed an oral application by Chiamaka Anagwu, representing UNN and four other defendants, seeking time to “keep their house in order.”
Lawyers representing Nnaji and the NUC did not oppose the adjournment.
The judge also ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the Minister of Education, who was absent in court.
Nnaji filed the suit following allegations of certificate forgery and sought prerogative writs to prevent the university and its officials from “tampering with” his academic records.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, names the Minister of Education, the NUC, UNN, Vice-Chancellor Professor Charles Ortuanya, the Registrar of UNN, Professor Ujam, and the Senate of the university as respondents.
The former minister is requesting a writ of mandamus to compel UNN to release his academic transcript and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise supervisory powers to enforce compliance.
He also sought an interim injunction restraining the university from interfering with his academic records pending the determination of the suit.
In a preliminary objection, the 3rd to 7th respondents argued that the suit should be struck out for lack of jurisdiction.
They contended that Nnaji’s motion was filed outside the three-month window stipulated by law, was procedurally incorrect, and that internal remedies at the university had not been exhausted.
The defendants further maintained that the court lacked jurisdiction over matters concerning student academic records and that no fundamental rights had been violated.
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Justice Yilwa adjourned the hearing to April 20, allowing all parties to prepare and regularise filings before resuming proceedings.
