A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has ordered Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to correct the academic record of a graduate after ruling that the institution unlawfully altered her degree classification.
The court also awarded ₦5 million in damages for violation of her fundamental rights.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, who held that the university acted arbitrarily by downgrading the plaintiff’s result from “Pass with Credit” to “Pass” without following due process.
The claimant, identified as Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola, graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy).
Court documents revealed that her result had been officially approved and published as “Pass with Credit” in both her statement of result and convocation records.
However, she later discovered that her official certificate reflected a lower classification, prompting her to challenge the discrepancy.
After internal efforts to resolve the issue failed, she approached the court for redress, alleging violation of her academic and fundamental rights.
In its ruling, the court described the university’s action as “arbitrary, unlawful, and reckless,” stating that proper procedures were not followed before altering the student’s academic record.
The judge further held that OAU failed to provide evidence of any disciplinary or academic review that justified the change in result.
Justice Demi-Ajayi ordered the university to issue a corrected certificate reflecting the original approved classification.
The court also awarded ₦5 million in damages and ₦800,000 as cost of litigation in favour of the claimant.
The ruling emphasized that academic institutions must adhere strictly to due process and cannot unilaterally alter student records without justification.
It further reinforced that students are entitled to protection under the law when their rights are infringed by administrative actions.
Legal analysts say the judgment sets an important precedent for accountability within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The case highlights growing concerns around transparency in result processing and the need for stronger oversight mechanisms in universities.
For students and graduates, the ruling serves as a reminder that academic disputes can be challenged legally when internal systems fail.
Ultimately, the judgment reinforces the principle that universities are not above the law and must operate within established legal and academic frameworks.