Certificate Forgery: Nnaji Seeks Out-of-Court Settlement With UNN, Others

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, for a long adjournment to enable him reach an out-of-court settlement in the suit he filed against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, among others.

Apr 20, 2026 - 21:13

Certificate Forgery: Nnaji Seeks Out-of-Court Settlement With UNN, Others

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, for a long adjournment to enable him reach an out-of-court settlement in the suit he filed against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, among others.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, was filed before Nnaji’s resignation from office amid allegations of certificate forgery against him.
Joined as co- defendants in the suit are the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, NUC, the UNN, its Registrar, as well as the former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam and the University Senate.
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, 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 settlement of the matter.

Murtala, then requested for a long adjournment to allow the parties explore settlement options.
Counsel for the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission told the court that they had not been formally notified of any settlement discussions, adding that they would seek instructions from their clients.
Also, Counsel to the Vice-Chancellor and other respondents, Chidubem Ugwunweze, appearing with Chiamaka Anagu, Mike Uche 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.
Following
There was no opposition on the request for adjournment and presiding judge fixed the matter for July 8, 2026, for a report on the settlement or hearing of the matter.
Meanwhile, Nnaji has yet to file his counter - claims to the counter-affidavit filed by the Prof. Ortuanya, challenging the competence of the originating motion for prerogative relief filed on January 9, 2026.

Ortuanya and others in their counter claims had urged the court to dismiss Nnaji’s suit in its entirety, saying it was incompetent, misconceived, frivolous, lacking in merit, and brought in bad faith.