Labour Party Chieftain Drags UNN To Court Over Peter Obi’s Academic Records
A Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), over the alleged failure of the institution to release the academic records of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, 2026, by Arabambi’s lawyer, Anderson Asemota.
The applicant listed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the university as the first and second respondents respectively.
Arabambi is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to comply with their statutory obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, by determining and responding to a request he submitted to the university on July 16, 2026.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Arabambi requested a Certified True Copy of Certificate No. D000198, allegedly issued by UNN to Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi in respect of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1984.
He also requested a Certified True Copy of the certificate, academic record or other official records upon which the said degree was based.
The applicant said the request was made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and was received by the respondents on August 6, 2026.
He alleged that the university failed to provide the requested information within the period prescribed by law and did not issue a written notice of refusal stating the specific provision of the Act relied upon in declining the request.
Following the alleged failure to respond, Arabambi said he sent a reminder letter dated August 31, 2026, reiterating his request and demanding the release of the records.
According to him, the reminder was received by the respondents on September 1, 2026, with the delivery receipt identifying the receiver as the Vice-Chancellor and the destination as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The applicant, in the affidavit deposed to by Chuku Maudlyn, a litigation secretary in the law firm of Messrs Neplus Ultra Attorneys, maintained that the university had neither supplied the requested records nor issued what he considered a lawful written notice of refusal as of the time the suit was filed.
The suit also raises questions concerning what Arabambi described as variations in Peter Obi’s name across documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and educational authorities.
Arabambi is consequently asking the court to compel the respondents to perform their statutory duties under the Freedom of Information Act in relation to his request.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
