The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned proceedings in a case involving former minister Uche Nnaji and the University of Nigeria Nsukka, after both sides indicated a willingness to resolve the dispute out of court.
The case, heard by Hauwa Yilwa, centres on an attempt by Nnaji to prevent the release of his academic records amid allegations that he forged his degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates.
The controversy, which emerged through media reports, prompted his resignation from government in 2025.
During Monday’s hearing, Nnaji’s lawyer, Ope Muritala, told the court that discussions were ongoing to reach a settlement and sought an adjournment to allow negotiations to continue.
While counsel for the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission said they had not been informed beforehand, they did not object to the application.
Representing UNN, Chidubem Ugwueze confirmed that senior counsel had communicated plans for settlement and stated that the defendants were open to the process, though they requested that their pending application be considered if talks collapse.
Justice Yilwa declined to entertain the application at this stage, adjourning the case until 8 July for a progress report on the settlement efforts.
In the suit, Nnaji is seeking court orders to restrain UNN from tampering with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript. He also asked that the Minister of Education and the NUC direct the university to comply.
However, the university and its officials have filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the case is procedurally flawed, statute-barred, and outside the jurisdiction of the court. They maintain that issues relating to academic records fall within internal university processes and that no valid cause of action has been established.
