Settlement talks may begin in the certificate forgery case involving former minister Uche Nnaji after he asked the Federal High Court in Abuja for more time to pursue an out-of-court resolution with UNN officials.
ABUJA, Nigeria – A major settlement move has emerged in the certificate forgery case involving former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, after he asked the Federal High Court in Abuja for a long adjournment to pursue an out-of-court resolution.
This is contained in a press release made available to GMT News Nigeria by the office of the Acting Public Relations Officer, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Nnaji instituted the suit against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, and other respondents.
The matter, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, was filed before Nnaji’s resignation from office amid allegations relating to certificate forgery.
Other defendants in the suit include the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, its Registrar, former Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, and the University Senate.
When the case came up on April 20, 2026, before Justice Hauwa Yilwa Joseph, lead counsel to Nnaji, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and Prof. S.T. Hon, SAN, were absent.
However, a legal team led by Opeyemi Muritala appeared for the applicant and informed the court that steps had begun toward an out-of-court settlement.
Counsel therefore requested a long adjournment to allow parties explore peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Lawyers representing the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission said they had not been formally notified of any settlement discussions but would seek instructions from their clients.
Counsel to the Vice-Chancellor and other respondents, Chidubem Ugwunweze, appearing with Chiamaka Anagu, Mike Uche and Doris Ifunanya Onah, told the court that their lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had been contacted by Chief Olanipekun regarding possible out-of-court talks.
With no opposition to the request, Justice Joseph adjourned the matter until July 8, 2026, for a report on the proposed settlement or for hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, Nnaji has yet to file a response to a counter-affidavit submitted by Prof. Ortuanya challenging the competence of the originating motion for prerogative relief filed on January 9, 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor and other respondents are asking the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
They described the action as incompetent, misconceived, frivolous, lacking merit and brought in bad faith.
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