The former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have agreed to explore an out-of-court settlement in a dispute over allegations of certificate forgery.
Mr Nnaji had filed a suit before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to prevent the university from releasing his academic records. The allegations, which first emerged through a media report, claimed that the former minister had forged his degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. He resigned from his cabinet position in 2025 following the public outcry.
At the resumption of hearing on Monday, Mr Nnaji’s counsel, Ope Muritala, informed the court that the parties were now pursuing a peaceful resolution. He requested an adjournment to allow for negotiations.
Lawyers representing the Minister of Education, P. C. Ike, and the National Universities Commission (NUC), N. H. Obah, told the court they had only learnt of the development in the courtroom. They did not oppose the application for an adjournment.
Counsel for UNN and its officials, Chidubem Ugwueze, confirmed that lead counsel Chris Uche, SAN, had informed him of the planned settlement. While not opposing the reconciliatory move, he urged the court to hear their motion for regularisation in case the talks collapsed.
Justice Yilwa declined to hear the motion, stating it would only be considered if the settlement efforts failed. She adjourned the matter until 8 July for a report on the settlement.
In his ex-parte motion, Mr Nnaji had sought leave to issue prerogative writs restraining the university and its officials from tampering with his academic records. He also applied for a writ of mandamus to compel UNN to release his academic transcript, and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to use their supervisory powers to enforce this.
However, the university and its officials filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction. They contended that the ex-parte motion was filed outside the three-month limit prescribed by Order 34 Rule 4(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, and contravened Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act 2004. They also argued that the substantive motion for prerogative orders was procedurally flawed, that no prior request for records had been made, and that the court had no jurisdiction over student academic records. Furthermore, they maintained that internal remedies had not been exhausted and that no reasonable cause of action had been disclosed against the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya.
The suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025.