Court gavel
The legal battle between Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), over claims of certificate forgery, hit a temporary roadblock on Monday as the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned proceedings due to incomplete filings from the university’s legal team.
The suit, which centers around questions about Nnaji’s academic credentials, was scheduled to be heard before Justice Hauwa Yilwa. However, the case could not proceed after counsel representing UNN and its officials failed to submit their responses on time.
Justice Yilwa subsequently rescheduled the hearing for November 10.
Filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, Nnaji initiated legal action in response to widespread allegations that he falsified his university certificate. He named the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, as the 1st to 4th respondents. Others joined in the suit include the UNN Registrar, a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam, and the university’s Senate, listed as 5th to 7th respondents.
In an earlier ex-parte motion, Nnaji requested the court to restrain the university and its officers from interfering with his academic records. He also sought a writ of mandamus to compel the university to release his academic transcript, urging the Education Minister and the NUC to enforce compliance.
On September 22, Justice Yilwa granted three of Nnaji’s requested reliefs but declined to issue an injunction. The matter was then adjourned to October 6.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Nnaji’s lead counsel, Sebastine Hon, SAN, informed the court that all parties had been duly served. However, Hon raised concerns that Prof. Ortuanya (the 4th respondent) had, despite being served on September 29, authored a letter to Premium Times—an online news outlet—on October 2, declaring that Nnaji was not a graduate of the university.
According to Hon, Premium Times subsequently ran a damaging story on October 4 titled:
“Investigation: The serial certificate forger in President Tinubu’s cabinet.”
Hon argued that this amounted to a breach of court protocol. “Once leave is granted, all parties are expected to maintain the status quo,” he said, alleging that the university and its officials had acted in contempt by continuing to make public claims.
He added that the applicant would be filing additional legal processes in light of the new developments.
Responding, E.M. Asogwa, representing the 3rd to 7th respondents, declined to validate Hon’s assertions but assured the court that his clients would be advised to maintain the status quo. He also noted that their response filings were still within the allowable timeframe.
With both sides stating their positions, Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter to November 10 for substantive hearing.
NAN
