A controversial chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has dragged the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its alleged refusal to release details of the academic records of former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Arabambi, a former factional spokesperson of the LP, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the university and its Vice-Chancellor to provide certified true copies (CTCs) of documents relating to Obi’s alleged Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, said to have been issued by the institution in 1984.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026 and filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, on September 9, 2026, Arabambi named the Vice-Chancellor of UNN and the university as the first and second respondents respectively.
The suit was filed pursuant to the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, 2011.
According to court documents made available on Saturday, Arabambi had, in a letter dated July 16, 2026, requested a CTC of Certificate No. D000198, which he said was issued by UNN to Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi in respect of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1984.
He also requested certified copies of Obi’s academic records and other official institutional documents upon which the alleged degree and certificate were predicated.
Arabambi stated that the request was delivered to and received by the respondents on August 6, 2026, but that the university allegedly failed to provide the requested information within the period prescribed by the FoI Act.
“The applicant expressly made the request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and stated the public-interest and accountability basis for the request,” he said in the affidavit filed before the court.
He further alleged that the respondents neither supplied the requested records nor issued a written notice of refusal identifying the specific provision of the FoI Act relied upon to deny access.
According to him, he subsequently sent a reminder dated August 31, 2026, reiterating his request and demanding the release of the documents.
The reminder, he said, was delivered to and received by the respondents on September 1, 2026, with the delivery receipt identifying the receiver as the Vice-Chancellor and the destination as UNN.
“As at the commencement of this action, the respondents have neither supplied the requested records nor issued a lawful written notice of refusal,” Arabambi stated.
The applicant is seeking 19 reliefs from the court, including a declaration that his request constitutes a valid application for information under the FoI Act.
He is also asking the court to compel the respondents to furnish him with a CTC of Certificate No. D000198, if the document exists in the custody, possession or control of the university.
In addition, Arabambi wants the court to compel UNN to release CTCs of existing official academic and institutional records relating to the alleged degree and certificate, including any records within the custody or control of the respondents.
The documents sought, according to the applicant, include relevant academic records relating to the award of the degree and the issuance of the certificate.
The suit is now before the Federal High Court in Abuja for determination.
