Court Adjourns Uche Nnaji’s Certificate Forgery Suit Until February 2027

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and other respondents until February 15, 2027.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa fixed the new date on Wednesday following the absence of counsel representing the first respondent, the Minister of Education.

Nnaji instituted the suit after allegations of certificate forgery were levelled against him. At Wednesday’s proceedings, his lawyer, Akintola Makinde, SAN, informed the court that the first respondent was not represented.

Makinde also drew the court’s attention to a pending application seeking to regularise processes filed in the matter, noting that hearing notices had been served on the parties.

However, Chris Uche, SAN, who appeared for the third to seventh respondents, reminded the court that it had partially granted an earlier application on January 8. He explained that the court had granted the first prayer seeking to regularise their processes, while the second prayer remained outstanding.

Uche urged the judge to deem the relevant processes as duly served. Justice Yilwa acknowledged that she had granted the first prayer but was yet to rule on the second relief. The lawyer subsequently assured the court that the outstanding issues would be addressed administratively.

Following discussions among the parties, the judge adjourned the case until February 15, 2027, for hearing.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, Nnaji is seeking orders restraining UNN and its officials from tampering with his academic records. He also asked the court to compel the university and its officials to release his academic transcript.

The former minister further sought an order directing the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to use their supervisory powers to compel the university to release the document.

The respondents listed in the case include the Minister of Education, NUC, UNN, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ortuanya, its Registrar, Ujam, and the university Senate.

Meanwhile, the third to seventh respondents have filed a preliminary objection asking the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

In their nine-ground argument, they contended that the case was filed outside the three-month period prescribed under Order 34 Rule 4(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

They also relied on Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act, 2004, arguing that the action was statute-barred and therefore incompetent.

The respondents further challenged the procedure adopted by Nnaji, arguing that the substantive application should have been commenced through an originating motion rather than a motion on notice, as stipulated under Order 34 Rule 5(1) of the court’s rules.

They also described the suit as premature and speculative, claiming there was no evidence that the university had previously refused to grant access to Nnaji’s academic records or interfered with them.

Other grounds of objection include arguments that disputes concerning students’ academic records, examinations, results and transcripts fall outside the court’s jurisdiction under Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The respondents also argued that Nnaji had failed to exhaust internal remedies, establish a violation of fundamental rights or disclose a reasonable cause of action against them.

The court is expected to hear the matter when proceedings resume on February 15, 2027. The adjournment does not amount to a determination of the allegations against Nnaji or the objections raised by the respondents.