A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied Uche Nnaji’s appeal to stop the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) from releasing his academic records. Justice Hausa Yilwa delivered the ruling on September 22.
Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, had filed an ex parte motion under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, asking the court to prevent UNN from disclosing or altering his records. He also requested an order compelling the university to make his academic transcript public.
After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Yilwa ruled that the injunction request could not stand.
“I find that the applicant has sufficient interest in the matter, and the application is partly meritorious. Accordingly, prayers 1, 2 and 3 are granted, while prayer 4, which sought an injunction, is declined,” the judge ruled.
The judge clarified that the approved reliefs should not stop any party from carrying out legal duties.
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Ortuanya told a media outlet that Nnaji did not complete his studies at the university.
“Nnaji did not finish his studies, hence the institution did not award his certificate,” Ortuanya said.
He added, “From our records, we cannot confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985. There are no records showing that he completed his studies.”
UNN reiterated that it could not issue a certificate since Nnaji failed to complete his program. The university also referred to a letter it sent to the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025 affirming the same stance.
Court documents show Nnaji admitted he has not collected his degree certificate, contradicting the one presented to the Senate.
“Even though I am yet to collect my certificate from UNN due to the non-cooperative attitude of the university authorities, the institution had issued a letter dated December 21, 2023, to an online news platform confirming that I graduated in July 1985 with a Second Class (Lower Division) in Microbiology/Biochemistry,” Uche Nnaji stated in his filing.
