A former minister, Uche Nnaji, along with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and other respondents in a certificate dispute, has started discussions to settle the matter outside court. The case was being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where parties informed the judge that they were now open to an agreement to resolve the issue without further litigation.
The dispute began after allegations that Nnaji submitted questionable academic and NYSC documents during his ministerial screening. The matter later led to legal action, and he eventually stepped down from his ministerial role during the controversy. Since the case started in 2025, court hearings have faced delays due to procedural issues and objections from different sides.
At the latest sitting, lawyers representing Nnaji told the court that discussions were ongoing to resolve the matter amicably, leading to a request for more time. Counsel for other defendants, including officials linked to the National Universities Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education, said they were aware of the settlement move and did not oppose an adjournment.
However, representatives of the University of Nigeria and its officials also asked that, if the talks fail, pending motions in the case should still be considered. The judge ruled that it was better to allow the settlement process to continue before dealing with other applications.
The court then fixed July 8, 2026, for either a report on the outcome of the settlement talks or for the case to proceed if no agreement is reached.
The dispute is centered on Nnaji’s request to stop alleged interference with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript, while the defendants have challenged the case on legal grounds, including claims that it was filed outside required time limits and that the court lacks jurisdiction.