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A Delta State High Court sitting in Warri has ordered Nigerian Universities to admit all 2024 candidates who passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, particularly those due to become 16 years from the 1st of September, 2025 to 31st December,2025.
The court directed the universities to allow the students resume school immediately pending the determination of a case brought before it.
The Court presided over by Justice A.O. Akpovi, in suit No. W/311/FH handed down the order on Friday, insisting that all universities in Nigeria are affected and bound by the order.
The order had restrained the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, from further taking action on and/or giving effect to the directives contained in its circular of October 16, 2024, titled “Admission of Candidates With Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years,” pending the hearing and the determination of an originating motion.
During proceedings in suit No: W/311/FHR/2024 between John O. Aikpokpo-Martins and JAMB as first respoindent and Edwin Clark University as second respondent, Aikpokpo-Martins appeared in person while, O. Mohammed SAN, with S.P. Siketi appeared for JAMB.
Dr Wahab Oyedekun, Director Legal, also represented JAMB while A Bekeredemo also appeared for Edwin Clark University.
John Aikpokpo-Martins informed the court that there were many processes before it, including the application to commit the Registrar of JAMB and the Registrar of Edwin Clark University to prison for disobedience of the orders of the court granted the 24/10/2024.
O. Aikpokpo-Martins wanted to move the said application for committal
The other counsel opposed vehemently and submitted that the hearing of their applications that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the case should be heard first.
At this stage, the court called on the Dr Wahab Oyedekun, Director of Legal JAMB, to explain the intention behind their notice of 16/10/2024, which he did.
Dr Wahab also agreed that they were not opposed to amicably resolving the matter alternatively while J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins also did not oppose the option of ADR.
He suggested that the Minister of Education hold an emergency meeting with JAMB and other stakeholders and explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) of the matter, as it has wide implications for many Nigerians, particularly the candidates represented by John Aikpokpo-Martins and the educational policy of the government.
JAMB’s Counsel conceded that the interim orders of court granted on the 24/10/2024 must be obeyed and informed the court that in light of the order granted on the 24/10/2024, it has forwarded a circular to all Vice Chancellors of Universities to inform them that JAMB has withdrawn the said circular of the 16/10/2024 pending the determination of the case.
The application by J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins to join Delta State University, Abraka, University of Delta, Agbor and Admiralty University, Ibusa as the 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents in the matter was granted.
Consequently the case was adjourned to the subsisting dates of 21/11/2024 and 4/12/2024 for hearing and/or report of the ADR..
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