KEY POINTS
- Uche Nnaji’s certificate suit against UNN adjourned to November 10.
- Court warns parties to maintain status quo in dispute.
- UNN yet to file formal response to certificate claim.
A hearing in the case filed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was stalled on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case, centered on allegations of certificate forgery, could not proceed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa due to the failure of UNN’s legal team to file their responses. Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter until November 10 for hearing.
Nnaji sues UNN over certificate dispute
Nnaji filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, following public allegations that he forged his university certificate. The Minister joined the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, as the first to fourth respondents.
Also joined were the university’s Registrar, former acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam, and the UNN Senate as the fifth to seventh respondents.
Through his counsel, Sebastine Hon (SAN), Nnaji sought orders preventing UNN from tampering with his academic records and compelling the release of his transcript. He also urged the court to direct the Minister of Education and NUC to ensure UNN’s compliance.
Court grants partial relief to Nnaji
In an earlier sitting on September 22, the court granted three of Nnaji’s preliminary reliefs but declined to issue an interim injunction. The court adjourned the matter to October 6 for further hearing.
When proceedings resumed, Nnaji’s counsel told the court that although it served UNN on September 29, Prof. Ortuanya allegedly wrote to Premium Times on October 2, claiming Nnaji was not a graduate of the university.
Premium Times published an investigative report on October 4 titled “Investigation: The Serial Certificate Forger in President Tinubu’s Cabinet.” Hon argued that the publication breached the court’s order directing all parties to maintain the status quo once it granted leave.
UNN counsel pledges to maintain status quo
Counsel to the third to seventh respondents, E.M. Asogwa, told the court they were still within the legal timeframe to file their defense but would advise their clients to maintain the status quo pending the next hearing.
Justice Yilwa adjourned proceedings until November 10. No lawyer appeared for the Minister of Education or the NUC.
