Alleged certificate forgery: Minister’s suit against UNN, others stalled

A proceeding successful a suit filed by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and others, was, connected Monday, stalled astatine the Federal High Court successful Abuja.

The proceedings successful the case, instituted by Nnaji implicit contention astir his assemblage certificate, could not spell connected earlier Justice Hauwa Yilwa owed to the inability of the lawyer for the UNN and its officers to record their responses.

Justice Yilwa consequently adjourned the substance until Nov. 10 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nnaji had filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, pursuing allegations of certificate forgery levelled against him.

The applicant sued the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, arsenic 1st to 4th respondents.

He besides joined the Registrar, UNN; a erstwhile acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguenjiofor Ujam; and the Senate of the assemblage arsenic 5th to 7th respondents, respectively.

Nnaji, successful an ex parte motion, had sought an bid granting him permission to contented prerogative writs prohibiting the assemblage and its officials from “tampering with” oregon continuing to “tamper with” his world records.

He besides sought permission to contented a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the assemblage and its officials to merchandise his world transcript to him and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to workout their supervisory powers to compel UNN to bash so.

He arsenic sought an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his world records pending the determination of the substantive suit, among others.

The justice had, connected Sept. 22, granted 3 of the reliefs sought by Nnaji but declined to contented immoderate injunctive bid against the respondents earlier adjourning the substance until Oct. 6 for further hearing.

Meanwhile, erstwhile the substance was called connected Monday, Nnaji was represented by Sebastine Hon, SAN, portion E.M. Asogwa appeared for the 3rd to 7th respondents (UNN and its officers).

However, nary lawyer appeared for either the Minister of Education oregon NUC (1st and 2nd respondents).

Hon, therefore, told the tribunal that each the parties successful the suit had been served.

The elder lawyer told the tribunal that though the 3rd to 7th respondents were served connected Sept. 29, helium alleged that the 4th responsive (Prof. Ortuanya) wrote an authoritative missive to PREMIUM TIMES, an online newspaper, connected Oct. 2, a fewer days aft being served, claiming that Nnaji was not a postgraduate of the university.

Hon said the “newspaper subsequently published a damaging connection against the applicant (Nnaji) connected the 4th of October, titled ‘Investigation: The serial certificate forger successful President Tinubu’s cabinet.’”

He argued that adjacent though the tribunal had refused immoderate prayers of the applicant, the respondents failed to support the presumption quo aft being served.

He said they went up to people a damaging connection against the applicant, contrary to the court’s regularisation that erstwhile permission is granted, each parties indispensable not instrumentality further action.

Hon, therefore, informed the tribunal that the applicant would record further processes regarding the development.

However, Asogwa told the tribunal that portion helium would not springiness credibility to Hon’s claims, they would decently “advise their clients to support the presumption quo pending the substantive hearing.”

He besides told the tribunal that the 3rd to 7th respondents were inactive wrong clip to record their responses.

Justice Yilwa past adjourned the substance until Nov. 10 for hearing. (NAN)

The station Alleged certificate forgery: Minister’s suit against UNN, others stalled appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.