A Federal High Court has come down hard on Obafemi Awolowo University, ordering the institution to correct a graduate’s downgraded degree and pay millions in damages over what it described as an unlawful and unjustified act.
Delivering judgment in Osogbo on May 5, 2026, Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi ruled that the University violated the fundamental rights of Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola by altering her academic classification without due process.
The court found that OAU wrongfully reduced her result from “Pass with Credit” to “Pass,” despite earlier confirming her original grade.
As a result, the court awarded ₦5 million in damages against the University, alongside ₦800,000 as the cost of the suit.
Oluwagbemisola, a Physiotherapy graduate who earned a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in 2023, had approached the court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/107/2025, challenging what she described as an arbitrary change to her academic record.
Through her lawyer, Princewill Okoroafor of P. O. Okoroafor & Co (The Daniels Chambers), she told the court that her result was initially issued as “Pass with Credit” in a Statement of Result dated November 23, 2023.
The same classification was publicly affirmed during OAU’s 47th Convocation in December 2023, where she was listed with that grade in the official brochure.
Trouble, however, began when she applied for her original certificate – only to discover that the University had downgraded her result to “Pass.”
After failed attempts to resolve the issue internally, she took the matter to court.
In a strongly worded judgment, Justice Demi-Ajayi described the University’s conduct as “arbitrary and reckless,” faulting its failure to follow established standards expected of a reputable institution.
The court also criticised OAU for not publishing her final year results and for neglecting to properly investigate the alleged error before altering her grade.
According to the judge, the unlawful action caused the plaintiff significant hardship and inconvenience, justifying the award of damages.
The court further cited the appellate case of Okafor & Anor v AIG Police Zone II Onikan & Ors (2019) in reinforcing its position on compensation for rights violations.
It held that OAU is legally bound to issue Oluwagbemisola’s original certificate reflecting the correct classification of “Pass with Credit,” consistent with its earlier records and official communications.
The ruling also acknowledged that the alteration disrupted her academic and professional plans, noting that she had already used the initial result for postgraduate applications.
The court concluded that the University’s actions subjected her to emotional and psychological stress, and accordingly granted all the reliefs sought – including an order to issue a corrected certificate in line with the University Senate’s approval of her result on November 20, 2023.
