The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, and other officials have challenged a legal suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, regarding allegations of certificate forgery.
The case is before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja. UNN and other defendants filed a preliminary objection, requesting the court to strike out the suit, claiming it is statute-barred and incompetently filed.
Defendants Named in the Suit
The defendants include:
- Minister of Education
- National Universities Commission (NUC)
- UNN
- Prof. Simon Ortuanya (Vice Chancellor)
- Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam (former acting VC)
- Registrar of UNN
- UNN Senate
Grounds for Objection
The defendants argued that:
- The motion for prerogative writs filed by Nnaji is incompetent and wrongly commenced.
- Nnaji’s ex parte motion was not filed within three months of the alleged incident, violating Order 34 Rule 4(1) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019 and Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Act 2004.
- The substantive application should have been filed via an originating motion, not a motion on notice, per Order 34 Rule 5(1).
- The court lacks jurisdiction over academic records, examinations, and transcripts unless internal remedies have been exhausted or fundamental rights are breached.
- No reasonable cause of action exists against the defendants, particularly Prof. Ortuanya, who acted in his official capacity as VC.
Court Proceedings
- At the hearing, Nnaji’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said he was only served the preliminary objection minutes before proceedings began.
- The defendants’ counsel, Prisca Udoka (SAN), informed the court they would file a counter-affidavit the following day.
- Justice Yilwa adjourned the case to January 13, 2026, and ordered hearing notices to be issued to absent parties.
- The Education Minister and NUC were not represented at the sitting.
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