Amanze Chinonye
Proceedings in the suit filed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and others was, on Monday halted at the Federal High Court in Abuja, following the failure of the university’s lawyers to file their defence.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa adjourned the matter until November 10, 2025, after lawyers representing UNN and its officials failed to file their responses to the suit.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, was instituted by Nnaji amid ongoing controversy over his university certificate, which investigations allege was never issued by the University of Nigeria.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the court filings, Nnaji is challenging the actions of UNN and several of its officials following public allegations of certificate forgery. He is seeking judicial intervention to compel the release of his academic transcript and to restrain the university from “tampering with” or altering his academic records.
The Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, are listed as the 1st to 4th respondents, while the Registrar of UNN, former Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam, and the Senate of the University are the 5th to 7th respondents respectively.
In an earlier ruling on September 22, Justice Yilwa granted three of Nnaji’s requests, including permission to compel the university to release his academic transcript. However, the court declined to issue an interim injunction restraining the respondents from acting on his records.
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At Monday’s hearing, Nnaji was represented by Sebastine Hon, SAN, while E. M. Asogwa appeared for the 3rd to 7th respondents (UNN and its officers). No counsel appeared for the Minister of Education or the NUC.
Hon informed the court that all parties had been duly served and accused UNN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya, of breaching the court’s directive to maintain the status quo by issuing an official letter to Premium Times on October 2 just days after being served claiming that Nnaji was not a graduate of the university.
He said the statement formed the basis of a Premium Times investigation published on October 4, titled “The Serial Certificate Forger in President Tinubu’s Cabinet,” which he described as “damaging and prejudicial” to his client’s case.
While acknowledging receipt of the complaint, Asogwa said he would not lend credibility to Hon’s claims but assured the court that the university’s legal team would advise their clients to maintain the status quo pending substantive hearing. He also noted that the respondents were still within the legal timeframe to file their defence.
The case stems from mounting public scrutiny over the authenticity of Nnaji’s academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials, following an exposé alleging discrepancies in his purported 1985 degree from UNN.
Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter to November 10 for further hearing.
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