Court Rejects Minister Uche Nnaji’s Bid to Block Release of His Academic Records
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application by the Minister of Innovation,
Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, seeking to prevent the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
(UNN) from releasing his academic records. The court described the request as lacking merit.
Minister Nnaji had filed a suit naming UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Senate, the Minister
of Education, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) as respondents. He sought
interim orders:
* To restrain UNN and its officials from “tampering with” his academic records;
* To compel the university to release his transcripts;
* To stop any party from disclosing or using his academic records while the case is
pending.
In his court papers, Nnaji admitted for the first time that UNN never issued him a degree
certificate, stating he had not collected any such document.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa, presiding over the case, turned down the application for injunctive relief.
While Nnaji was granted leave to pursue his substantive suit, the court declined to stop UNN
from acting on requests for his academic records.
The court held that the minister had not shown adequate grounds to justify restraining the
university or third parties from releasing documents, particularly given UNN’s claim that there is
no evidence he graduated or was issued a certificate.
* UNN has publicly disowned the degree certificate in Nnaji’s possession, stating that its
records do not show he completed the programme or was awarded the degree.
* In court filings, Nnaji concedes that although he was admitted in 1981 to study
Microbiology/Biochemistry, he has never collected any certificate from UNN.
* The vice-chancellor of UNN, Professor Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that though Nnaji
matriculated, there is no record that he graduated.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
