Federal High Court restrains OAU and UNILAG from finalizing 2025/2026 admission lists amid Post-UTME scoring controversy
ENUGU, Nigeria – A Federal High Court in Enugu has ordered Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to suspend all admission processes for the 2025/2026 academic session following allegations of Post-UTME irregularities.
Court Hits Pause on Admissions Pending Full Hearing
Justice Mabel Segun-Bello delivered the ruling on Tuesday after reviewing a motion ‘ex parte’ filed by five candidates challenging their Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) scores.
The petitioners, Chibuzor Succes, Zainab Oyeleye, Adedeji Samuel, Monsura Aduragbemi, and Bassey Nsikak, are suing “on behalf of themselves and all other affected candidates” who believe they were unfairly scored. F.K. Nnadi and Co., an Enugu-based law firm representing the candidates, also named the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as a defendant since it operates the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) that universities use to process admission offers.
What the Court Actually Said
Justice Segun-Bello granted an interim injunction stopping the universities from releasing, approving, or uploading any admission list until the full hearing.
“Having considered extensively the four prayers of the Applicant, it is important to note that a veritable and triable issue does exist here necessary for both parties to be heard,” the ruling stated.
In simpler terms: the judge thinks there’s enough merit to the complaint that everyone needs to be heard before admissions move forward. Neither OAU nor UNILAG can finalize their 2025/2026 admission lists for now.
The court also told the petitioners to formally notify all respondents, OAU, UNILAG, and JAMB, about the proceedings.
Universities Respond (Or Don’t)
OAU spokesperson Abiodun Olarewaju confirmed the university knows about the ruling but hasn’t had time to review it properly because of the public holiday.
“After the university deliberates on this issue, we will come out with our own position,” Mr. Olarewaju told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
UNILAG’s reaction? Still unclear. Efforts to reach the institution’s spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, went nowhere, her phone line was unreachable, and a text message got no response.
Neither university has publicly addressed the specific allegations about Post-UTME scoring irregularities that started this whole mess.
How We Got Here
This court order didn’t come out of nowhere. F.K. Nnadi and Co. sent pre-action notices to both universities last month, essentially warning them that a lawsuit was coming.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in September that the law firm threatened legal action over alleged irregularities that left numerous candidates with unexpectedly low Post-UTME scores. The notices, dated September 11, demanded that the universities release withheld results and grant access to test scripts and answer sheets, basically, show your work.
The firm wanted students or an independent third party to verify the assessment process. For context, Post-UTME exams are supplementary screening tests Nigerian universities conduct after candidates pass JAMB’s main entrance exam. These scores matter a lot, they influence final admission decisions alongside UTME results and O’level grades.
What the Candidates Want
According to a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the petitioners made several specific asks.
They want the court to stop the universities from releasing or finalizing any admission list for the 2025/2026 session. They also asked that JAMB be told not to process or validate any lists either university might submit.
The candidates argue that moving forward with admissions based on potentially flawed Post-UTME results would cause irreparable harm and undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s entire university admission system. Whether that argument holds water remains to be seen.
What This Means for Thousands of Hopeful Students
Here’s where things get tricky. This court order could affect thousands of candidates waiting on admission to both universities.
OAU and UNILAG are among Nigeria’s most competitive federal universities, we’re talking tens of thousands of applicants every year. The timing is particularly bad since most Nigerian universities release admission lists between September and November for sessions that start in January or February.
Any serious delay could mess up academic calendars and leave candidates stuck in limbo. Some may have already turned down offers from other schools, banking on getting into OAU or UNILAG. That’s a tough spot to be in.
The case also raises bigger questions about transparency in Nigeria’s university admission processes. Post-UTME exams have been controversial for years, with critics arguing they sometimes lack proper oversight and standardization. Whether this lawsuit will change anything long-term is anyone’s guess.
What Comes Next
The court will schedule a hearing for the motion on notice, where all parties, the petitioners, OAU, UNILAG, and JAMB, will get to present their side of the story.
Until then, the status quo order stays in effect. Both universities must keep their admission processes on ice, and JAMB can’t validate any lists they might have already submitted.
Legal observers expect the universities and JAMB to fight back hard, possibly arguing that their Post-UTME processes followed proper procedures and that delays could hurt other qualified candidates who scored well. They may have a point, freezing admissions doesn’t just affect the petitioners.
The outcome could set a precedent for how Nigerian courts handle disputes over university admissions and Post-UTME exams going forward. Or it might just be a temporary speed bump. We’ll have to wait and see.
PREMIUM TIMES
