The former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and the defendants, including the University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN), on Monday opted for an out-of-court settlement of their dispute.
Nnaji had filed a suit before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, praying the court to stop the university from releasing his academic records following allegations of certificate forgery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-minister, the plaintiff in the case, was alleged to have forged his degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
The allegations, through a media report, led to his resignation as Nigeria’s minister in 2025.
Justice Yilwa had, on Feb. 26, fixed today for the hearing of his suit.
Upon the resumed hearing, Ope Muritala, who appeared for Nnaji, told the court that the case was fixed for the hearing of all pending applications.
Muritala, however, said that there was “a new development as parties were exploring an out-of-court settlement”.
He applied for an adjournment to allow parties to explore the peaceful resolution of the case.
Lawyers to the minister of education, P. C. Ike, and his counterpart for the National Universities Commission (NUC), N. H. Obah, told the court they were unaware of the development.
They said they were only hearing about this while in court.
The duo, however, did not oppose Muritala’s application.
On his part, Chidubem Ugwueze, who represented UNN and its officials (3rd to 7th defendants), said that the lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, had informed him of the settlement plan.
He said the defendants were not opposed to the reconciliatory move but urged the court to “hear their motion for regularisation” in case the talks failed.
Justice Yilwa declined to take the application.
She said the motion would be considered if the settlement efforts failed.
The judge then adjourned the matter until July 8 for a report of settlement.
NAN reports that Nnaji, in an ex-parte motion, had sought an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting the university and its officials from “tampering with” or continuing to “tamper with” his academic records, among others.
Nnaji, in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025 and sued the Minister of Education, NUC, UNN and Ortuanya as 1st to 4th respondents.
He also joined the Registrar of UNN, Ujam, and the Senate of the university as the 5th to 7th respondents, respectively.
He sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him and asked the minister of education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.
