A Federal Excessive Court docket sitting in Osogbo has dominated towards Obafemi Awolowo College. The decide discovered the establishment wrongly altered a scholar’s diploma classification. Because of this, OAU should now appropriate the document and pay damages.
How the Controversy Began
Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola accomplished her Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in Physiotherapy in 2023. The college first issued a Assertion of Outcome on November 23, 2023. It clearly confirmed “Move with Credit score.” Furthermore, the identical grade appeared within the official brochure for the forty seventh Convocation in December 2023.
Nonetheless, points surfaced later. When the graduate requested her unique certificates, officers had modified the classification to plain “Move.” She tried inner decision a number of occasions. But these efforts failed. Consequently, she approached the court docket for justice by her lawyer, Princewill Okoroafor of P. O. Okoroafor & Co (The Daniels Chambers). The matter was filed as Go well with No. FHC/OS/CS/107/2025.
Choose Condemns Arbitrary Motion
Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi delivered judgment on the case. The court docket held that the college breached and violated the elemental rights of the plaintiff by altering her grade from “Move with Credit score” to “Move” with out lawful justification.
Moreover, the decide described the college’s conduct as “arbitrary and reckless”. She famous that it failed to stick to acceptable requirements and greatest practices anticipated of a good establishment. As well as, the court docket criticized OAU for not publishing the plaintiff’s closing 12 months outcomes. It additionally faulted the college for neglecting to correctly examine the alleged error earlier than altering her grade.
“Having discovered that the college breached, violated and infringed on the elemental rights of the applicant by unlawfully and illegally altering her grade from ‘Move with Credit score’ to ‘Move’, the court docket holds that there is no such thing as a doubt that the unlawful and illegal motion of the defendant will need to have prompted the applicant nice inconvenience and hardship,” the decide held.
The court docket added that such conduct, which reveals disregard for the legislation, warranted the award of exemplary damages. Justice Demi-Ajayi additionally referenced the appellate resolution in Okafor & Anor v AIG Police Zone II Onikan & Ors (2019) to assist the award of damages in circumstances involving abuse of rights.
Reliefs and Compensation Awarded
The decide granted all reliefs sought by the plaintiff. Due to this fact, OAU should situation a corrected certificates displaying “Move with Credit score.” This should match the Senate’s earlier approval on November 20, 2023, and prior official information.
The court docket declared that the college is legally certain to situation the plaintiff’s unique diploma certificates reflecting the proper classification of “Move with Credit score”, in keeping with its earlier publications and official communications.
Moreover, the alteration disrupted her educational {and professional} plans. She had already used the unique end result for postgraduate functions. Her proof on this level remained unchallenged. The court docket discovered {that a} cheap individual would conclude that the plaintiff suffered emotional and psychological stress.
Accordingly, Justice Demi-Ajayi awarded N5 million in damages towards the college. She additionally ordered N800,000 as prices of the swimsuit. In whole, the monetary penalty stands at N5.8 million. This ruling sends a transparent message. Universities should respect college students’ rights and observe due course of when dealing with outcomes..