The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the hearing of a suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and other parties until 15 February 2027.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa set the new date after a Wednesday session in which the counsel for the first respondent, the Minister of Education, was absent. Nnaji’s case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, accuses the university of forging his academic certificates and seeks a mandamus order to compel UNN and its officials to release his transcript.
During the hearing, Akintola Makinde, SAN, the former minister’s lawyer, informed the court that the Minister of Education was not represented. He also highlighted a pending motion to regularise the processes in the matter, noting that hearing notices had already been served on the parties.
Chris Uche, SAN, who represents the third to seventh respondents—including UNN’s registrar, Ujam, and its Senate—reminded the court that on 8 January a part of an earlier application to regularise the processes had been granted, while a second relief remained unresolved. Uche urged the court to treat the relevant processes as duly served and assured that outstanding issues would be addressed administratively.
The respondents filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the suit was filed outside the three‑month period prescribed by Order 34 Rule 4(1) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, violated Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act 2004, and was therefore incompetent. They also claimed the action was premature, speculative, and outside the court’s jurisdiction under Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as it concerns a student’s academic records.
After considering the parties’ arguments, Justice Yilwa agreed to adjourn the case to 15 February 2027. The court also noted that the first prayer of the earlier application had been granted, while the second remained to be decided. The parties have agreed that the matter will be heard on the new date.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
