Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Osogbo has ordered the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to correct the degree classification of a graduate, Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola, after ruling that the institution unlawfully downgraded her academic result.
In a judgment delivered in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/107/2025, the court held that the university violated the plaintiff’s fundamental rights by changing her classification from “Pass with Credit” to “Pass” without lawful justification.
Consequently, the court awarded ₦5 million in damages against the university, alongside ₦800,000 as the cost of litigation.
Oluwagbemisola, a Physiotherapy graduate who obtained a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in 2023, had approached the court to challenge what she described as an arbitrary alteration of her academic record.
The suit, filed through her counsel, Princewill Okoroafor of P. O. Okoroafor & Co stated that the university initially confirmed her result as “Pass with Credit” in a Statement of Result dated November 23, 2023.
The same classification was also reflected during the institution’s 47th Convocation ceremony in December 2023, where she was listed in the official convocation brochure with the grade.
However, the dispute arose when she applied for her original certificate and discovered that her classification had been changed to “Pass.” After efforts to resolve the discrepancy internally failed, she sought legal redress.
Delivering judgment, Justice Demi-Ajayi described the university’s action as “arbitrary and reckless,” noting that it failed to follow acceptable academic standards and due process before altering the result.
The court further faulted the institution for not publishing the plaintiff’s final year results and for neglecting to properly investigate the alleged error.
The judge held that the unlawful change caused the plaintiff significant hardship, stating that the action must have led to “great inconvenience” and disruption to her academic and professional pursuits. The court also acknowledged evidence that she had already relied on the earlier result for postgraduate applications.
In addition, the court noted that the university’s conduct subjected the plaintiff to emotional and psychological stress, adding that such disregard for due process justified the award of exemplary damages.
Justice Demi-Ajayi cited the appellate decision in Okafor & Anor v AIG Police Zone II Onikan & Ors (2019) to support the position that abuse of rights warrants compensation.
The court therefore ordered the university to issue a corrected degree certificate reflecting the original “Pass with Credit” classification, in line with its earlier official records and the approval of its Senate dated November 20, 2023.
All reliefs sought by the plaintiff were granted.
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