The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, follows allegations of certificate forgery leveled against the former minister. Nnaji originally filed an ex-parte motion seeking prerogative writs to prevent UNN officials from tampering with his academic records and to compel the release of his academic transcript.
During the session, the ex-minister’s counsel, Akintola Makinde, SAN, noted that hearing notices had been served and pointed to a pending motion to regularise their processes. Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third through seventh respondents, asked the court to deem relevant processes duly served, while acknowledging that a secondary prayer in an earlier application remained unresolved.
In response, the third through seventh defendants filed a preliminary objection urging the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. They argued that the application was filed out of time under the Federal High Court Rules and the Public Officers Protection Act, and contended that the matter failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action.
With the consent of all parties present, Justice Yilwa formally adjourned the case to early next year for the hearing of pending motions and objections. Outstanding administrative and procedural issues are expected to be sorted out before the next court date.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a lawsuit filed by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and others until February 15, 2027. Justice Hauwa Yilwa postponed the proceedings on Wednesday due to the absence of the legal representative for the first respondent, the Minister of Education.
During the session, the ex-minister’s counsel, Akintola Makinde, SAN, noted that hearing notices had been served and pointed to a pending motion to regularise their processes. Chris Uche, SAN, representing the third through seventh respondents, asked the court to deem relevant processes duly served, while acknowledging that a secondary prayer in an earlier application remained unresolved.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, follows allegations of certificate forgery leveled against the former minister. Nnaji originally filed an ex-parte motion seeking prerogative writs to prevent UNN officials from tampering with his academic records and to compel the release of his academic transcript.
In response, the third through seventh defendants filed a preliminary objection urging the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. They argued that the application was filed out of time under the Federal High Court Rules and the Public Officers Protection Act, and contended that the matter failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action.
With the consent of all parties present, Justice Yilwa formally adjourned the case to early next year for the hearing of pending motions and objections. Outstanding administrative and procedural issues are expected to be sorted out before the next court date.
