LP Chieftain Sues UNN Over Peter Obi’s Academic Records

A Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, has sued the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), over the alleged refusal to release details of the academic records of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a post on X, Lere Olayinka said Arabambi, a former factional spokesperson of the LP, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja after the university allegedly failed to respond to his request for certified academic records relating to Obi.

According to the report, Arabambi requested a Certified True Copy (CTC) of Certificate No. D000198, said to have been issued to Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1984.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, on September 9, 2026.

Arabambi also requested certified copies of the academic record or other official records upon which the degree was based, under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“The applicant also requested a Certified True Copy of the certificate, academic record or other official records upon which the said degree was predicated,” he stated in the affidavit.

According to Arabambi, the request was delivered to and received by the respondents on August 6, 2026, but the institution allegedly failed to provide the requested information within the period prescribed by law.

“The applicant expressly made the request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and stated the public-interest and accountability basis for the request.

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“The respondents failed and/or neglected to provide the requested information within the period prescribed by the Act,” he said.

He further alleged that the respondents did not issue a written notice of refusal identifying the specific provision of the FoI Act relied upon in denying access to the information.

Following the alleged failure to respond, Arabambi said he sent a reminder letter dated August 31, 2026, reiterating his request.

“The applicant consequently sent a reminder letter dated 31st August, 2026, reiterating the original request and again demanding the requested records.

“The reminder letter was delivered to and received by the respondents on 1st September, 2026, as evidenced by the delivery receipt,” he said.

The affidavit, deposed to by Chuku Maudlyn, a litigation secretary at Messrs Neplus Ultra Attorneys, stated that the delivery receipt identified the receiver as the Vice-Chancellor and the destination as UNN.

“As at the commencement of this action, the respondents have neither supplied the requested records nor issued a lawful written notice of refusal,” Arabambi said.

The former LP factional spokesperson is seeking 19 reliefs from the court, including a declaration that his request constituted a valid request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

He is also seeking an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to provide a CTC of Certificate No. D000198, if the certificate exists in their custody, possession or control.

Arabambi further wants the court to compel UNN to furnish him with certified copies of existing official academic and institutional records relating to the degree and certificate.

The documents sought include the relevant academic record, graduation or degree-award record, certificate-register entry, Senate or academic approval and award record, as well as other existing official records upon which the degree or certificate was based.