Hearing in a suit filed by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and others, suffered a set back at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday due to non regularization of processes.
The case instituted by Nnaji over controversy about his university certificate, could not go on before Justice Hauwa Yilwa due to the inability of the lawyer for the UNN and its officers to file their responses, prompting the trial judge to adjourn the matter to November 10, 2025 for hearing.
When the matter was called on Monday, Counsel for Nnaji, Sebastian Hon, SAN, told the court that all the parties in the suit had been served, however, there was no appearance recorded for the Minister of Education and NUC.
Hon argued that even though the court had refused some prayers of the applicant, the respondents failed to maintain the status quo after being served, noting that they went ahead to publish a damaging statement against his client, contrary to the court’s rule that once leave is granted, all parties must not take further action.
Nnaji had filed the suit, following allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him, with the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, NUC, UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
In an ex parte motion, Nnaji sought an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting the university and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records.
He also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.
He equally sought an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit, among others.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
