The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to correct the degree classification of a graduate, Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola, after ruling that the institution unlawfully downgraded her result. Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi delivered the judgment, holding that the university violated the fundamental rights of the plaintiff by changing her grade from 'Pass with Credit' to 'Pass' without lawful justification.
The court awarded N5 million in damages against the university, along with N800,000 as the cost of the suit. Oluwagbemisola, a graduate of Physiotherapy who earned a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in 2023, had filed a lawsuit challenging the arbitrary alteration of her academic record. Through her counsel, Princewill Okoroafer of P. O. Okoroafer & Co (The Daniels Chambers), she argued that the university initially confirmed her academic standing as 'Pass with Credit' in a Statement of Result dated November 23, 2023.
This classification was publicly affirmed during the institution's 47th Convocation in December 2023, where she was listed in the convocation brochure as graduating with the same grade. However, when she applied for her original certificate, she discovered that the university had revised her degree classification to 'Pass'. After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue internally, she sought judicial intervention.
Court's Findings
Justice Demi-Ajayi described the university's conduct as 'arbitrary and reckless,' noting that it failed to adhere to acceptable standards and best practices expected of a reputable institution. The judge faulted the university for not publishing the plaintiff's final year results and for neglecting to properly investigate the alleged error before altering her grade.
'Having found that the university breached, violated and infringed on the fundamental rights of the applicant by unlawfully and illegally changing her grade from 'Pass with Credit' to 'Pass', the court holds that there is no doubt that the illegal and unlawful action of the defendant must have caused the applicant great inconvenience and hardship,' the judge held.
Damages and Orders
The court added that such conduct, showing disregard for the law, warranted the award of exemplary damages. Justice Demi-Ajayi referenced the appellate decision in Okafor & Anor v AIG Police Zone II Onikan & Ors (2019) to support the award. The court declared that the university is legally bound to issue the plaintiff's original degree certificate reflecting the correct classification of 'Pass with Credit', in line with its earlier publications and official communications.
The alteration of the result caused significant disruption to the plaintiff's academic and professional pursuits, as she had already used the earlier result for postgraduate applications. The court found that a reasonable person would conclude that she suffered emotional and psychological stress due to the university's actions. Accordingly, the court granted all reliefs sought, including orders for the university to issue a corrected certificate consistent with its Senate decision approving her result on November 20, 2023.
