ABUJA, NIGERIA — A Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, has sued the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, over the institution’s alleged refusal to release the academic records of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, escalating a long-running dispute over the former Anambra governor’s educational credentials.
In an originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026 and filed on September 9 at the Federal High Court in Abuja by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, Arabambi named himself as the applicant and the Vice-Chancellor and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as the first and second respondents. The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
Arabambi, a former factional spokesperson for the Labour Party, said he had requested a Certified True Copy of Obi’s certificate number D000198 for a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy issued in 1984, under the Freedom of Information Act, but the institution turned down his request. He is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to perform their statutory duty under the FOI Act 2011 by determining and responding to his request dated July 16 in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
According to the affidavit setting out the facts, the applicant requested a CTC of Certificate No. D000198, stated to have been issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 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 predicated. The request was duly delivered to and received by the respondents on August 6, 2026.
Arabambi stated that the respondents failed and/or neglected to provide the requested information within the period prescribed by the Act and did not provide him with written notice of refusal identifying the specific provision of the Act relied upon for refusal. He consequently sent a reminder letter dated August 31, 2026, reiterating the original request and again demanding the requested records. The reminder letter was delivered to and received by the respondents on September 1, 2026, as evidenced by a delivery receipt.
In the affidavit deposed to by Chuku Maudlyn, a litigation secretary in the law firm of Messrs Neplus Ultra Attorneys, Arabambi averred that the delivery receipt identified the receiver as the Vice-Chancellor and the destination as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He said that as at the commencement of the action, the respondents had neither supplied the requested records nor issued a lawful written notice of refusal.
At the centre of the applicant’s complaint is what he described as multiple variations of Obi’s name across documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission and educational authorities. Arabambi has been a persistent critic of Obi and has previously made allegations about inconsistencies in the former governor’s academic records.
The lawsuit is the latest development in a protracted controversy that has trailed Obi’s educational credentials since his days as governor of Anambra State. Obi has consistently maintained that his records are genuine and has often dismissed the allegations as politically motivated distractions. His supporters have accused his critics of pursuing a vendetta aimed at damaging his reputation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Legal analysts say the case raises important questions about the scope of the Freedom of Information Act and the obligations of public institutions to respond to requests for information. If the court grants the order of mandamus, it would compel the University of Nigeria to release the requested records, potentially setting a precedent for similar requests in the future. For now, the matter awaits judicial consideration.
