The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, and other officials have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out the suit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over allegations of certificate forgery.
At Monday’s proceedings before Justice Hauwa Yilwa, the university and its Vice-Chancellor, through their counsel, Prisca Udoka, SAN, filed a preliminary objection seeking to dismiss the case for being “statute-barred.” They argued that the matter was filed outside the legally prescribed three-month window under the Public Officers Protection Act (2004), rendering the case incompetent and depriving the court of jurisdiction.
The respondents further asked the court to strike out Mr. Nnaji’s motion on notice for prerogative writs, describing it as premature and procedurally defective. They contended that the former minister had not made any formal request for his academic records before instituting the case, nor shown evidence of interference by the university.
Mr. Nnaji had, in September 2025, approached the court through an ex parte motion seeking orders to prevent UNN and its officials from tampering with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript. The suit lists the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, and the Vice-Chancellor among the seven respondents.
The case follows a PREMIUM TIMES investigation which alleged that Mr. Nnaji forged his bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. The revelations led to his resignation as minister days after the first hearing on 6 October, amid widespread public criticism and calls for prosecution.
During Monday’s sitting, Mr. Nnaji’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that the defence had served him the notice of preliminary objection that morning and was preparing to file a counter-affidavit. He requested a definite hearing date to allow all parties to respond.
Justice Yilwa subsequently adjourned the matter to January 13, 2026, for hearing and ordered that hearing notices be issued to parties not present in court.
In their filings, UNN and its Vice-Chancellor also argued that disputes involving student academic records, results, and transcripts do not fall under the Federal High Court’s exclusive jurisdiction as defined by Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). They added that internal university remedies had not been exhausted and that no fundamental rights violations had occurred.
The respondents asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction and no reasonable cause of action, while also seeking substantial costs against the applicant.