15-year-old student sues Education Ministry, JAMB, NUC over new admission policy

Chinaemere Opara, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Student, has sued the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB and the National Universities Commission, NUC over the introduction of the new admission policy.

Opara filed the suit through his guardian, Mr Maxwell Opara, his father and a lawyer, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

In the originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1512/2024 dated Sept. 30 and filed October 14 by Wayne Elijah, the SS 2 student listed the ministry, JAMB and NUC as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

In his six reliefs, the applicant sought a declaration that the respondents’ minimum age for admission policy to restrict the age of Nigerian citizens for admission into universities in the country is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

He said it amounted to a gross violation of his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Sections 42 of the 1999 Constitution, 2011 (as amended) and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13(2), 17 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

He urged the court to declare that his right to peaceful assembly and association cannot be limited by the respondents’ admission policy.

He also sought a declaration that the policy which restricts his age before exercising his right of association and self-determination as to when to enrol to write the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC and/or JAMB exams infringed on his right to equal access to public service.

This, he said, is guaranteed under Article 13(2) and (3) of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

Opara, therefore, sought an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the respondents from attempting to disturb, breach or interfere with his rights.

He equally sought an order setting aside the policy.