UNN Initiates Out of Court Settlement Talks in Academic Records Dispute with Former Minister Nnaji

University of Nigeria Nsukka initiates out of court talks with ex-minister Uche Nnaji. Federal High Court adjourns academic records case to July 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 6:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation

Clarifying the Origins of Legal Settlement Overtures

Aide to former Minister Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Dr. Robert Ngwu, has formally clarified that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and associated respondents were the parties who first moved for an out of court settlement. This statement follows public reports that suggested the former Minister was the one seeking a compromise in the ongoing litigation at the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to Ngwu, it is essential to correct the record to reflect that the university is driving the effort to find a resolution outside of a formal judicial ruling.

Judicial Records Confirm University Initiative

The clarification points to specific proceedings held before Justice H. J. Yilwa, where the legal representative for the university acknowledged the move toward mediation. Chief Chris Uche, SAN, representing the 3rd through 7th respondents, reportedly admitted in open court that he had reached out to the legal team of the applicant. This admission confirms that the university's leadership is exploring alternative avenues to resolve the dispute, which centers on the release of Nnaji’s academic documentation.

Defense Response to the Proposed Adjournment

In response to the overtures from the university, the legal team for Nnaji, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, acknowledged the ongoing discussions. Rather than rejecting the proposal, the applicant’s counsel requested a scheduled adjournment to allow all involved parties sufficient time to weigh the merits of the settlement offer. Ngwu emphasized that his principal merely responded to the university's initiative rather than instigating the pause in active litigation himself.