BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a long adjournment to enable him pursue an out-of-court settlement in the suit he instituted against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, and other respondents.
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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, was filed prior to Nnaji’s resignation from office amid allegations of certificate forgery involving him.
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Joined as defendants in the matter are the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; its Registrar; the former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam; and the University Senate.
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When the matter came up for hearing 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 on behalf of the applicant and informed the Court that steps had been initiated towards out-of-court resolution. The Counsel accordingly requested a long adjournment to allow the parties explore settlement.
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Counsel representing the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission indicated that they had not been formally notified of any settlement discussions but would seek instructions from their clients.
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Counsel to the Vice-Chancellor and other respondents, Chidubem Ugwunweze, Esq., appearing with Chiamaka Anagu, Mike Uche, Esq., and Doris Ifunanya Onah, informed the Court that their lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had been contacted by Chief Olanipekun, to explore option of resolving the dispute out-of-court.
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In the absence of any opposition on the request for adjournment, Justice Joseph adjourned the matter to July 8, 2026, for a report on the settlement or for hearing of the case.
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Meanwhile, Nnaji has yet to file a response to the counter-affidavit submitted by the Prof. Ortuanya, which challenges the competence of the originating motion for prerogative relief filed on January 9, 2026.
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The Vice-Chancellor and others are urging the Court to dismiss Nnaji’s suit in its entirety, describing it as incompetent, misconceived, frivolous, lacking in merit, and brought in bad faith.
