Following the proposed planned to publish names of candidates that allegedly cheated in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) within 2009 and 2019, a Lagos-based lawyer, Chief Osuala Emmanuel Nwagbara has instituted a suit against the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and two others.
In a suit marked FHC/L/CS/980/19 and filed before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Lagos Federal High Court, the lawyer wants the court to stop JAMB and others from the planned probe of the credentials of candidates and declare it unconstitutional right to fair hearing.
He instituted the suit on behalf of UTME candidates of 2009 to 2019 against JAMB, while other respondents are: Federal Minster of Education and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
According to the lawyer, the suit was filed pursuant to Section 36 and 42 of the Constitution of he Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Aricle 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right Act and the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules 2009.
The lawyer is also asking the court to declare that since JAMB had screened and cleared the candidates who partook in the examinations over the period 2009 to 2019, for university admission cannot now probe their university admission pre-qualification credentials and or take any other steps and or actions that may be injurious to the interest of all such persons.
He also sought for a declaration that JAMB having screened and cleared the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidates who partook in the examinations over the period 2009 to 2019, for university admission cannot now publish the names of such persons as person who may have cheated in the university admission pre-qualification examination s and or take any other step and or action that may be injurious to the interest of all such persons.
Nwagbara also prayed the court to restrain the JAMB and other respondents from carrying out their decision or an action against the said candidates by way of probing the credentials of UTME candidates from 2009 to 2019.
Furthermore, the lawyer wants the court to make an order nullifying any decision or step already taken in execution of the respondent decision and or action to probe credentials of the UTME candidates from 2009 to 2019 and to publish names of those who may have cheat as same is discriminatory, unconstitutional null and void and infringement of the constitutional right to fair hearing of the said candidates.
Meanwhile, the third respondent in the suit, the AGF has asked the court to dismiss the suit against him.
In a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its litigation clerks, Friday Zekeri, of the Federal Ministry of Justice, AGF said the lawyer did not seek its advice or input before instituting the suit.
The deponent averred that he was informed by Elodimuo Ekene, a lawyer in AGF’s office that on September 25, 2019 at about 1200 hours, that the applicants commenced this suit through an application of enforce their fundamental human rights dated June 17, 2019 and filed same day.
He stated that after a careful perusal of the Application and supporting Affidavit filed by the Applicants shows that there is no substantive claim whatsoever against the third respondent and that the averments in the applicants’ affidavit are denied and unknown to the third respondent.
He also stated that there was no fact or wrong doing which have been raised against AGF and that the complaint of the applicants falls under the Statutory and administrative powers /duties of the JAMB.
Meanwhile Justice Saidu has adjourned till February 12, for hearing of the matter.
