A Federal High Court in Abuja is has received a suit seeking to stop the conduct of post-UTME examinations in tertiary institutions in the country.
The lawsuit, instituted by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), seeks to terminate post-UTME tests conducted by Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges before admitting students on the basis that they are illegal.
In a suit filed recently against Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Universities Commission (NUC), the group claims that there is no law authorising the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges to subject candidates to a second screening or test after the UTME examination by JAMB.
The group also claims that the POST-UTME tests have become a source of boldface corruption in the universities, polytechnics and Colleges.
“Lecturers and admission officials charge candidates huge sums of money using the Post-UTME as smoke screen,” the suit read.
In the suit filed by Mr Chino Edmund Obiagwu, lead counsel for LEDAP, the group is also seeking the declaration that only the 1st Defendant (JAMB) has the statutory powers to conduct matriculation examinations for admission into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
It also wants a declaration that the imposition and conduct of Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) by Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria for candidates seeking admission into their institutions is illegal and unlawful.
Another relief the group is seeking is a declaration that the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (NUC and Federal Ministry of Education) have no powers howsoever to allow or direct Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria to further screen or conduct admission tests in violation of Joint Matriculation Board, Act.
It wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria from further imposition or conduct of Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) or any other form of admission screening test in Nigeria.
One of grounds upon which the reliefs are sought are that the 1st Defendant is the only statutory body with powers to exercise general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations leading to admissions into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
