A Federal High Court in Enugu has ordered Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to halt their ongoing admission processes for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Justice Mabel Segun-Bello issued the ruling on Tuesday after considering an ex parte motion filed by five candidates—Chibuzor Succes, Zainab Oyeleye, Adedeji Samuel, Monsura Aduragbemi, and Bassey Nsikak—suing on behalf of themselves and other affected students.
The suit also lists the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which manages the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), as a defendant.
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Petitioners’ Demands
The candidates asked the court to:
Restrain OAU and UNILAG from releasing or finalising any admission lists pending the determination of the case.
Stop JAMB from processing any admission lists submitted by the universities.
Maintain the “status quo” regarding admissions until the court hears the substantive motion.
They alleged irregularities in the Post-UTME examinations, including withheld results, unfair malpractice accusations, and technical glitches.
Court Ruling
Justice Segun-Bello held that the matter raised “a veritable and triable issue” requiring both sides to be heard. She directed the applicants to notify the respondents and ordered all parties to maintain the current state of affairs until the next hearing.
Universities’ Response
OAU spokesperson Abiodun Olarewaju confirmed awareness of the ruling but said the institution had not fully reviewed it due to the public holiday. “After deliberations, the university will make its position known,” he said.
Efforts to reach UNILAG spokesperson Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem were unsuccessful.
Background
Last month, the petitioners’ lawyers, F.K. Nnadi & Co., issued pre-action notices to both universities, alleging that candidates had been unfairly penalised and results suppressed. They demanded access to Post-UTME scripts for independent verification and called for fair hearings for students accused of malpractice.
UNILAG, in its response, denied withholding results. It said only candidates found guilty of clear violations of exam guidelines were disqualified after proper internal investigation.
Meanwhile, Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, claimed he had compiled 752 complaints from candidates who said they were wrongly flagged or scored incorrectly due to software glitches during the online tests.
What’s Next
The case will proceed with both universities and JAMB formally notified. Until then, admission processes for the 2025/2026 session at OAU and UNILAG remain suspended.
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