Court Orders University of Calabar to Pay N55 Million to 8 Engineering Students
The Federal High Court, Calabar, has ruled that the University of Calabar (UNICAL) must pay N55.247 million to eight students for enrolling them in unaccredited engineering programs.
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The Federal High Court, Calabar, has ruled that the University of Calabar (UNICAL) must pay N55.247 million to eight students for enrolling them in unaccredited engineering programs.
Presiding Judge R. O. Dugbo-Oghoghorie described the university’s actions as “fraudulent, reckless, and deceitful” during the judgment delivered on Wednesday, March 4, in suit FHC/CA/CS/117/21. The plaintiffs, Idiong Ekpedeme Godwin and seven others, collectively known as the “UNICAL 8”, filed the case against UNICAL, its former Vice Chancellor Prof. Florence Obi, and four other respondents.
The court emphasized that no institution should operate a program without prior approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and noted that the university owed a duty of care to disclose the accreditation status of its programs to prospective students.
Evidence presented in court showed that full accreditation for the affected engineering programs was only obtained during the 2024/2025 academic cycle, several years after the students were expected to graduate.
As a result, the court awarded the plaintiffs:
- N50 million in general damages for the hardship endured, and
- N5.247 million in special damages for psychological trauma and academic stagnation suffered due to the university’s negligence.
This landmark judgment underscores the obligation of universities to ensure proper accreditation before admitting students and reinforces accountability in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
