New details have surfaced regarding the attempt by Mr. Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, to secure an interim court order preventing the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) from disclosing his academic records. His request was ultimately dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The minister initiated legal proceedings against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, its Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and the university Senate, seeking to block them from releasing his academic documents.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa, presiding over the case, rejected the minister’s application.
In his petition, Mr. Nnaji sought the court’s permission to issue a prerogative writ of prohibition against the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Senate of UNN, aiming to prevent any interference with his academic records held by the institution.
Additionally, he requested a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling these university officials to provide him with his academic transcript.
He further sought an order directing the Minister of Education and the NUC to use their supervisory authority to ensure the release of his academic documents by the university authorities.
Moreover, the minister asked for an interim injunction to restrain the university officials from tampering with his academic records while the substantive case was pending.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reviewed the extensive affidavits and exhibits submitted, including a 34-paragraph affidavit by the applicant and a 6-paragraph affidavit of urgency, as well as additional affidavits from a third party, Martin Luther Akawe.
The judge examined key sections of the affidavits and supporting documents, concluding that the minister had a legitimate interest in the matter and that the application had merit. Consequently, the court granted the first three prayers but denied the request for the interim injunction.
Justice Yilwa clarified that the refusal of the fourth prayer meant that the granted reliefs would not function as injunctive orders against any party involved.
Previously, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Simon Ortuanya, had publicly refuted the authenticity of Mr. Nnaji’s certificate in a letter dated October 2, 2025, addressed to Premium Times. The university asserted that the minister did not fulfill the requirements to graduate.
In the letter, the university stated, “We acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated September 29, 2025, regarding this matter.
“Records indicate that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, matriculation number 1981/30725, was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981.
“However, based on all available documentation and information, we cannot verify that Mr. Nnaji graduated in July 1985, as there is no evidence of his completion of studies at UNN.
“Therefore, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka neither issued nor could have issued the certificate purportedly awarded to Mr. Nnaji in July 1985. This position aligns with an earlier communication dated May 13, 2025, sent to the Public Complaints Commission (reference RUN/SR/R/V),” Professor Ortuanya wrote.
Interestingly, in his court submissions, Mr. Nnaji contradicted his earlier claims made during his ministerial screening in August 2023, where he presented a UNN degree certificate. He now acknowledged that he has not yet received his degree certificate from the university.
He stated, “Although I have not collected my certificate from the third defendant (UNN), primarily due to the uncooperative stance of the third to fifth defendants (UNN, its Vice Chancellor, and Registrar), the university issued a letter dated December 21, 2023, addressed to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe), which confirmed the following:
‘Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.'”